Question 1

A homeobox gene is one that produces a group of repetitive base sequences such as a VNTR.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Provide a brief description of the variable gene activity hypothesis as it relates to development. What information is often provided in support of this hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide a brief description of the variable...

Question 3

Define determination and differentiation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define determination and differentiation....

Question 4

Which class of genes controls the developmental identity of segments along the anterior-posterior axis?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which class of genes controls the developmental...

Question 5

It is presently believed that the asymmetric distribution of substances in the egg, positioned by the mother, is responsible for establishing the determined state. Which general term describes such molecular positioning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is presently believed that the asymmetric...

Question 6

What significant conclusion has the classic work on the eyeless and Pax6 genes provided in terms of developmental mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What significant conclusion has the classic work...

Question 7

Caenorhabditis elegans is extremely useful as an experimental organism because it has relatively few cells, and, for the most part, each embryonic cell's fate is developmentally fixed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Segmentation genes, such as the pair-rule class, are inherited through mitochondrial DNA in Drosophila.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Three investigators-Nüsslein-Volhard, Wieschaus, and Lewis-won the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1995 for work they did in 1970 with Drosophila. Briefly describe their findings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Three investigators-Nüsslein-Volhard, Wieschaus, and Lewis-won the Nobel...

Question 10

Drosophila and Arabidopsis use different sets of nonhomologous master regulatory genes to establish the body axis and specify the identity of structures along such an axis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

In Drosophila, the sequential order of the function of segmentation genes is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  gap, segment-polarity, pair-rule 
B)  pair-rule, transdeterminal, gap 
C)  transdeterminal, gap, pair-rule 
D)  gap, pair-rule, segment-polarity 
E)  segmentational, helical, spherical

Question 12

Which term refers to the regulatory events that establish a specific pattern of gene activity and developmental fate for a given cell?

Accepted Answer

A)  lysogen 
B)  differentiation 
C)  determination 
D)  gradient regulated 
E)  attenuation

Question 13

What is the general order of genes involved in determining early Drosophila development?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the general order of genes...

Question 14

Provide an explanation of the differences between differentiation and determination. Provide examples of each process and indicate how each is involved in development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide an explanation of the differences between...

Question 15

How do segment polarity genes relate to pair-rule genes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do segment polarity genes relate to...

Question 16

Molecular/structural orientations (gradients) in an egg are thought to play a significant role in development. What is the origin of such gradients? What evidence indicates that the maternal genotype is involved in providing such gradients?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Molecular/structural orientations (gradients) in an egg are...

Question 17

In Drosophila, maternal-effect genes are influential in determining the anterior-posterior organization of the developing embryo.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following is a fundamental characteristic of the Notch pathway?

Accepted Answer

A)  It works through nuclear signals involving the lac operon. 
B)  It works through direct cell to cell contact. 
C)  It allows mRNAs to accumulate in the posterior portion of the Drosophila embryo. 
D)  It directs mRNAs to antisense systems in the posterior portion of all organisms. 
E)  It provides symmetry to plant flowers.

Question 19

Differentiation is the process whereby a cell's determined state is expressed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which general genetic process is believed to account for the variety of cellular structures and functions in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  variable gene activity 
B)  negative control exclusively 
C)  maternal environmental activities 
D)  intron processing 
E)  RNA processing

Exam 18: Developmental Genetics

A homeobox gene is one that produces a group of repetitive base sequences such as a VNTR.

Provide a brief description of the variable gene activity hypothesis as it relates to development. What information is often provided in support of this hypothesis?

Define determination and differentiation.

Which class of genes controls the developmental identity of segments along the anterior-posterior axis?

It is presently believed that the asymmetric distribution of substances in the egg, positioned by the mother, is responsible for establishing the determined state. Which general term describes such molecular positioning?

What significant conclusion has the classic work on the eyeless and Pax6 genes provided in terms of developmental mechanisms?

Caenorhabditis elegans is extremely useful as an experimental organism because it has relatively few cells, and, for the most part, each embryonic cell's fate is developmentally fixed.

Segmentation genes, such as the pair-rule class, are inherited through mitochondrial DNA in Drosophila.

Three investigators-Nüsslein-Volhard, Wieschaus, and Lewis-won the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine in 1995 for work they did in 1970 with Drosophila. Briefly describe their findings.

Drosophila and Arabidopsis use different sets of nonhomologous master regulatory genes to establish the body axis and specify the identity of structures along such an axis.

In Drosophila, the sequential order of the function of segmentation genes is ________.

Which term refers to the regulatory events that establish a specific pattern of gene activity and developmental fate for a given cell?

What is the general order of genes involved in determining early Drosophila development?

Provide an explanation of the differences between differentiation and determination. Provide examples of each process and indicate how each is involved in development.

How do segment polarity genes relate to pair-rule genes?

Molecular/structural orientations (gradients) in an egg are thought to play a significant role in development. What is the origin of such gradients? What evidence indicates that the maternal genotype is involved in providing such gradients?

In Drosophila, maternal-effect genes are influential in determining the anterior-posterior organization of the developing embryo.

Which of the following is a fundamental characteristic of the Notch pathway?

Differentiation is the process whereby a cell's determined state is expressed.

Which general genetic process is believed to account for the variety of cellular structures and functions in eukaryotic cells?