Lecture 15 - Evo-Devo Flashcards
What does “Evo-Devo” stand for?
Evolutionary developmental biology, studying how genetic and environmental processes drive phenotype development and how these influence evolution.
How does Evo-Devo connect development and evolution?
It links development (genotype to phenotype) and evolution (selection acting on phenotypes to alter genotypes over time).
Define “cis-acting elements” in gene regulation.
DNA regions close to a gene, such as enhancers and promoters, that regulate the gene’s expression.
What are “trans-acting elements” in gene regulation?
Proteins, such as transcription factors, that bind to DNA at distant locations to regulate gene expression.
Proteins, such as transcription factors, that bind to DNA at distant locations to regulate gene expression.
Enhances transcription factor binding stability, creating sharp boundaries of gene expression, crucial for development.
What is the importance of signalling pathways in development?
They enable communication between cells, influencing gene expression and guiding tissue and organ formation.
What are maternal-effect genes?
Genes whose mRNA or proteins are deposited in the egg by the mother, influencing early embryonic development.
Describe the anterior-posterior axis development in Drosophila.
Maternal-effect genes set gradients (e.g., bicoid protein) that guide the spatial expression of segmentation genes.
What are “pair rule genes” and “segment polarity genes”?
Pair rule genes: Define repeated embryonic stripes.
Segment polarity genes: Refine boundaries and pattern within each segment.
How do homeotic (Hox) genes influence body development?
They assign identity to body segments, with their spatial arrangement corresponding to their chromosomal order.
What is the “genetic toolkit” of development?
A set of conserved genes that regulate body patterning, formation, and primary axes in various organisms.
Why are regulatory mutations key for evolution?
They can alter gene expression in specific tissues or times without disrupting overall protein function, offering adaptability.
What is the evolutionary significance of “cis-element evolution”?
It allows tissue-specific or time-specific gene expression changes, influencing traits without altering the protein.
What developmental adaptation is seen in Stickleback fish?
Loss of pelvic spines in shallow water populations due to mutations suppressing pelvic enhancer activity.
How does trans-regulation evolve?
By adding new binding motifs to transcription factors, enabling them to interact with new DNA targets or proteins.
What are developmental constraints?
Limits to evolution caused by genetic correlations or essential developmental pathways.
Give an example of developmental plasticity.
Aquatic plants producing aerial and submerged leaf types in response to environmental conditions.
What role do enhancers play in gene regulation during development?
Enhancers act as binding sites for transcription factors, influencing where, when, and how much a gene is expressed.
How are multiple cis-elements used for cooperative gene regulation?
Multiple identical cis-elements can bind transcription factors, and cooperative binding ensures rapid and robust activation of gene expression.
What is the difference between maternal-effect genes and zygotic genes in development?
Maternal-effect genes are deposited in the egg by the mother and guide early development, while zygotic genes are expressed by the embryo itself.
Why are chiasmata essential in meiosis?
Chiasmata, resulting from crossovers, ensure proper segregation of homologous chromosomes by holding them together until separation.
Chiasmata, resulting from crossovers, ensure proper segregation of homologous chromosomes by holding them together until separation.
The bicoid gradient provides positional information along the anterior-posterior axis, guiding the expression of gap and pair-rule genes.
How do gap genes contribute to development?
Gap genes are expressed in broad regions of the embryo and establish the primary body plan by regulating pair-rule and segment polarity genes.
What is the role of Hox genes in segment identity?
Hox genes specify the identity of segments by controlling the expression of downstream genes that shape morphology.