Suppose the protein specified by bicoid was injected into Drosophila embryos so that a high concentration was present everywhere in the embryo. What might be the result of such an experiment?
A) The embryos would grow larger than normal.
B) The embryos would show no development of posterior regions.
C) The embryos would show no development of anterior regions.
D) The embryos would halt their development.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bicoid is a protein that functions as a morphogen in Drosophila (fruit flies), crucial for the early development of embryos. It is normally concentrated at the anterior end of the embryo and establishes the anterior-posterior axis by activating the transcription of genes required for the development of anterior structures. If bicoid were present in high concentrations throughout the embryo, it would interfere with the normal gradient required for specifying the posterior regions, potentially leading to embryos that lack proper development of those posterior regions.

Suppose the Protein Specified by Bicoid Was Injected into Drosophila