What is the syncytium structure of the Drosophila embryo?
In early development, Drosophila melanogaster embryos form a syncytium, i.e., multiplying nuclei are not yet separated by cell membranes, but are interconnected by cytoskeletal polymer networks consisting of actin and microtubules.
Which gene is a homeotic gene in a Drosophila embryo?
Most homeotic genes of Drosophila are located in two large gene clusters, the Antennapedia complex (ANT-C) and the Bithorax complex (BX-C).
What is pattern formation in Drosophila?
It is during the early stages of fly embryonic development that the body plan of a fly is arranged into what will become the adult fly. Pattern formation is the development of a body according to a specific and planned spatial arrangement.
What is the syncytium?
Listen to pronunciation. (sin-SIH-shee-um) A large cell-like structure formed by the joining together of two or more cells. The plural is syncytia.
What does the hunchback gene do in Drosophila?
The function of hunchback is central to the establishment of an anterior-posterior gradient of gene activity in the transition from unfertilized egg to developing zygote. As its name suggests, hunchback has a special role in the development of the trunk (thorax) of the fly.
How are homeotic genes in Drosophila regulated?
Homeotic genes of the Antennapedia and bithorax complexes control Drosophila development by encoding DNA-binding proteins that regulate the transcription of target genes.
What is the first stage of embryonic pattern development in Drosophila?
| stage number | minutes after fertilization | developmental activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 FlyMove | 0-15 | Pronuclear fusion |
| 2 FlyMove | 15-70 | Preblastoderm (mitotic cycles 1-9) – early cell division – start of cleavage |
| 3 FlyMove | 70-90 | Pole bud formation – nuclear division 9 |
| 4 FlyMove | 90-130 | Syncytial blastoderm (mitotic cycles 10-13) – end of cleavage divisions |
Is hunchback an activator or repressor?
The hunchback protein is a strikingly concentration-dependent activator of transcription, capable of functioning both by itself and also synergistically with the pair-rule proteins fushi tarazu and paired.