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Chapter 18: Problem 7

(a) What are zygotic genes, and when are their gene products made? (b) What is the phenotype associated with zygotic gene mutations? (c) Does the maternal genotype contain zygotic genes?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Zygotic genes are genes that are expressed in the zygote, the initial cell formed during fertilization in sexually reproducing organisms. These genes are significant in embryonic development as they are crucial for proper cell division, tissue formation, and overall growth and development of the organism. Mutations in zygotic genes can lead to a variety of phenotypes, including developmental abnormalities or even lethality in the embryo.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding zygotic genes

Zygotic genes are genes that are expressed in the zygote, which is the initial cell formed when two individual gametes (sperm and egg cells) fuse during fertilization in sexually reproducing organisms. The gene products of zygotic genes are made during the development of the embryo when the zygote undergoes cell division and differentiation.
02

Phenotype associated with zygotic gene mutations

Zygotic gene mutations can lead to a variety of phenotypes depending on the specific gene involved and the effect of the mutation. Generally, these mutations can result in developmental abnormalities, malformations, or even lethality in the embryo. This is because zygotic genes are crucial for proper cell division, tissue formation, and overall growth and development of the organism.
03

Presence of zygotic genes in the maternal genotype

Yes, the maternal genotype contains zygotic genes. A genotype refers to the complete set of genes present in an organism, including both maternal and paternal genes. Zygotic genes are present in both parental genotypes, and they are contributed to the zygote during fertilization. However, the expression or activation of zygotic genes in the developing embryo occurs independent of the maternal genotype.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Nuclei from almost any source may be injected into Xenopus oocytes. Studies have shown that these nuclei remain active in transcription and translation. How can such an experimental system be useful in developmental genetic studies?

Carefully distinguish between the terms differentiation and determination. Which phenomenon occurs initially during development?

In this chapter, we have focused on large-scale as well as the inter- and intracellular events that take place during embryogenesis and the formation of adult structures. In particular, we discussed how the adult body plan is laid down by a cascade of gene expression, and the role of cell-cell communication in development. Based on your knowledge of these topics, answer several fundamental questions: (a) How do we know how many genes control development in an organism like Drosophila? (b) What experimental evidence demonstrates that molecular gradients in the egg control development? (c) How did we discover that selector genes specify which adult structures will be formed by body segments? (d) How did we learn about the levels of gene regulation involved in vulval development in \(C .\) elegans? (e) How do we know that eye formation in all animals is controlled by a binary switch gene?

Embryogenesis and oncogenesis (generation of cancer) share a number of features including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and invasion, formation of new blood vessels, and differential gene activity, Embryonic cells are relatively undifferentiated, and cancer cells appear to be undifferentiated or dedifferentiated. Homeotic gene expression directs early development, and mutant expression leads to loss of the differentiated state or an alternative cell identity. M. T. Lewis (2000. Breast Can. Res. \(2: 158-169\) ) suggested that breast cancer may be caused by the altered expression of homeotic genes. When he examined 11 such genes in cancers, 8 were underexpressed while 3 were overexpressed compared with controls. Given what you know about homeotic genes, could they be involved in oncogenesis?

Dominguez et al. (2004) suggest that by studying genes that determine growth and tissue specification in the eye of Drosophila, much can be learned about human eye development. (a) What evidence suggests that genetic eye determinants in Drosophila are also found in humans? Include a discussion of orthologous genes in your answer. (b) What evidence indicates that the eyeless gene is part of a developmental network? (c) Are genetic networks likely to specify developmental processes in general? Explain fully and provide an example.
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