L7 Visualising Drosophila Development

Question 1

In situ hybridisation

Answer 1

In situ hybridization (ISH) is a type of hybridization that uses a labeled complementary DNA, RNA or modified nucleic acids strand (i.e., probe) to localize a specific DNA or RNA sequence in a portion or section of tissue

Question 2

Immunostaining

Answer 2

any use of an antibody-based method to detect a specific protein in a sample

Question 3

pericardial cells

Answer 3

one of many cells along the sides of the insect heart usually occurring in strands.

Question 4

Homophilic

Heterophilic

Answer 4

Homophilic interactions where adhesion molecules on one cell interacts with identical molecules on the other cell.

Heterophilic interactions where an adhesion molecule on one cell functions as a receptor that binds to a different but specific molecule (known as the ligand) on the other cell.

Question 5

Polyclonal antibody

Answer 5

Polyclonal antibodies are made using several different immune cells. They will have affinity for the same antigen but different epitopes

Question 6

Epitopes

Answer 6

the part of an antigen molecule to which an antibody attaches itself.

Question 7

Monoclonal antibody

Answer 7

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb or moAb) are antibodies that are made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a unique parent cell. Monoclonal antibodies can have monovalent affinity, in that they bind to the same epitope (the part of an antigen that is recognized by the antibody).

Question 8

Antibody

Answer 8

An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to neutralize pathogens such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Question 9

Transgenes

Answer 9

A transgene is a gene or genetic material that has been transferred naturally, or by any of a number of genetic engineering techniques from one organism to another.

Question 10

Cellularisation

Answer 10

The separation of a multi-nucleate cell or syncytium into individual cells.

Question 11

Maternal effect genes

Answer 11

The maternal effect genes are responsible for the polarity of the egg and of the embryo. The developing egg (oocyte) is polarized by differentially localized mRNA molecules.

Question 12

Gap genes

Answer 12

These genes establish the segmented body plan of the embryo along the anterior-posterior axis.

Question 13

Pair-rule genes

Answer 13

The pair-rule genes are expressed in striped patterns of seven bands perpendicular to the anterior-posterior axis

Question 14

segment polarity genes

Answer 14

A segmentation gene whose function is to define the anterior and posterior polarities within each embryonic parasegment.

Question 15

Enhancer

Answer 15

an enhancer is a short (50–1500 bp) region of DNA that can be bound by proteins (activators) to increase the likelihood that transcription of a particular gene will occur

Question 16

Promoter

Answer 16

promoter is a region of DNA that initiates transcription of a particular gene

Question 17

Repressor

Answer 17

a repressor is a DNA- or RNA-binding protein that inhibits the expression of one or more genes by binding to the operator or associated silencers.

Question 18

Silencer

Answer 18

silencer is a DNA sequence capable of binding transcription regulation factors, called repressors

Question 19

Gastrulation

Answer 19

Gastrulation is a phase early in the embryonic development of most animals, during which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a multilayered structure known as the gastrula.