How are the zygotic genes influenced by the maternal genes? What would happen if you mutate the zygotic genes?

Question: Explain the relationship between maternal genes and zygotic genes and discuss the consequences of mutating zygotic genes. Answer: Maternal genes, contributed by the mother, control the early stages of embryonic development, while zygotic genes are expressed after the zygotic genome is activated and are essential for further development. The presence of maternal gene products can direct the activation of zygotic genes in various developmental pathways. Mutating zygotic genes can lead to disruptions in development, causing abnormalities or lethality, depending on the specific gene and its function. The severity of these effects will depend on factors like the nature of the mutation and genetic redundancy, where other genes can compensate for the loss of the mutated gene's function.