What does the Ubx gene do?

Summary: Mutations in the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene cause homeotic transformation of the normally two-winged Drosophila into a four-winged mutant fly. Ubx encodes a HOX family transcription factor that specifies segment identity, including transformation of the second set of wings into rudimentary halteres.

What type of gene is Ubx?

homeobox gene
Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is a homeobox gene found in insects, and is used in the regulation of patterning in morphogenesis. There are many possible products of this gene, which function as transcription factors.

Where is Ubx localized in the cell?

Ubx is expressed strongly in thoracic segment 3 discs, haltere and third leg, and more weakly in posterior parts of the thoracic segment 2 discs, wing and second leg (Irvine, 1991).

What causes antennapedia?

Antennapedia (abbreviated Antp) is a Hox gene first discovered in Drosophila which controls the formation of legs during development. Loss-of-function mutations in the regulatory region of this gene result in the development of the second leg pair into ectopic antennae.

How many species of fruit flies are there?

The terms “fruit fly” and “Drosophila” are often used synonymously with D. melanogaster in modern biological literature. The entire genus, however, contains more than 1,500 species and is very diverse in appearance, behavior, and breeding habitat.

How many Hox genes are there?

39 human HOX
The 39 human HOX genes are located in four clusters (A-D) on different chromosomes at 7p15, 17q21. 2, 12q13, and 2q31 respectively and are assumed to have arisen by duplication and divergence from a primordial homeobox gene.

Is Antennapedia dominant or recessive?

Most of the early mutations were dominant – ie only one copy of the mutant gene is required to affect a transformation (e.g. Antennapedia: antenna-to-leg). Later, recessive mutations Antennapedia were discovered, which cause the reverse transformation (leg-to-antenna).

What is the Antennapedia complex?

The Antennapedia complex (ANT-C) is one of two Hox gene complexes. Hox genes encode homeodomain transcription factors. ANT-C controls the identity of segments that contribute to the head and the anterior thorax. ANT-C homeotic genes show colinearity in their expression patterns with the exception of pb.

What is Pseudogenization?

Pseudogenization is an evolutionary phenomenon where- by a gene loses its function by disruption to its regulatory or. coding sequence. Such loss of function is generally thought. to be detrimental to an organism and selectively disadvan-

What is zinc finger motif?

A zinc finger is a small protein structural motif that is characterized by the coordination of one or more zinc ions (Zn2+) in order to stabilize the fold. It was originally coined to describe the finger-like appearance of a hypothesized structure from the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) transcription factor IIIA.

What is a predator of a fruit fly?

Fruit fly has several predators – Braconid wasps are egg parasites; ants and ground beetles feed on the maggots; and spiders, dragonflies, robber flies and birds such as Swallows, Restless Flycatchers and Willy Wagtails eat the adult flies. Poultry is an enormous help in fruit fly control.