Why does a mutation in a maternal-effect gene affect the offspring of mutant females and not the mutant female herself?
A)because the affected female is heterozygous
B)because the mutant gene product is not needed in development
C)because the mutant gene product results in defective oocytes
D)because the father of the affected offspring is also affected

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maternal-effect genes are responsible for providing gene products necessary for early embryonic development, and they are transcribed and translated in the mother and deposited into the egg. Therefore, if there is a mutation in a maternal-effect gene, the mutant gene product will be deposited into the egg and affect the development of the offspring. However, the mutant female herself will not be affected because she has already developed and her body has already undergone normal development prior to the gene expression of the maternal-effect genes. In this case, the mutation in the maternal-effect gene results in defective oocytes, which affects the embryonic development.

Why Does a Mutation in a Maternal-Effect Gene Affect the Offspring