Question

The specification of the anterior-posterior axis in Drosophila embryos is initially controlled by various gene products that are synthesized and stored in the mature egg following oogenesis. Mutations in these genes result in abnormalities of the axis during embryogenesis. These mutations illustrate maternal effect. What are the expected outcomes of parallel crosses involiving mutant gnes that contrast maternal effect and organelle heredity?

Answer 1

Answer:

It is possible to determine their functions and to identify the mechanism involved in their mode of inheritance  

Explanation:

Matrilineal inheritance refers to the inheritance of genes directly from the mother, it either through the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA or by the epigenetic mechanism of genomic imprinting (in the case above indicated, maternal imprinting). By mutating genes which are inherited from the mother it is possible to study their functions as well as their mode of inheritance. By using a reverse genetics approach, many maternal imprinted genes have recently been identified to be involved in embryo development, especially in model organisms like Drosophila.