The mutations in the DNA binding protein and in the enhancer adjacent to the transcriptional activator protein are more likely to lead to specific defects than Mutation #3, the gene coding for the metabolic enzyme. Metabolic enzymes are often expressed in a wide range of tissues and developmental stages and thus are less likely to have highly specific defects.
2. What are the advantages of conducting developmental genetics research with the nematode worm, C. elegans, and what types of studies can be done with this animal? (3 pts).
C. elegans has a highly defined development, with a known cell lineage and excellent understanding of which cells are derived from specific cells. It is also easy to raise and many mutants have been isolated in this animal. The genome has been fully sequenced, facilitating relating mutations to specific defects.
3. For a codominantly-expressed protein locus in mice with two alleles (A and A’), you observe the following genotypes: 60 AA, 20AA’ and 20 A’A’. What are the frequencies of the A and A’ alleles? (2 pts).
A allele has a frequency of 0.6 plus 1/2 of 0.2, or 0.7.
A’ allele has a frequency of 0.2 plus 1/2 of 0.2, or 0.3,