A fetus possesses a mutation that causes the diencephalon region of the developing brain to cease growing. Which structures in the mature brain will be missing/abnormal if the fetus survives to birth and childhood?
A)The cerebellum
B)The thalamus, pineal gland, and hypothalamus
C)The cerebrum
D)The pons, midbrain, and medulla

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The diencephalon gives rise to the thalamus, pineal gland, and hypothalamus, so if it ceases growing, these structures will be abnormal or missing in the mature brain. The cerebellum is formed from the hindbrain, and the cerebrum is formed from the telencephalon, so neither of these structures would be affected by a mutation in the diencephalon. The pons, midbrain, and medulla are formed from the hindbrain, which is also not directly affected by a diencephalic mutation.

A Fetus Possesses a Mutation That Causes the Diencephalon Region