How is sex determined in Drosophila?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In Drosophila, sex determination is controlled by a cascade of genes, including the sex lethal (Sxl) and transformer (tra) genes. Alternative splicing of Sxl in females leads to the production of an active form of the Sxl protein, which in turn leads to the production of an active form of the tra protein. The tra protein then activates the transcription of the doublesex (dsx) gene, which determines sexual differentiation. In males, Sxl is spliced differently, resulting in the absence of the active form of Sxl and the production of a non-functional form of tra, leading to the production of male-specific dsx isoforms. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

How Is Sex Determined in Drosophila