Question

The alleles for eye color in fruit flies involves one allele that might contain the sequence CCAT. Assume that this allele produces red eyes in a fruit fly, because the allele produces a protein that makes red pigment. Assume that another allele of this gene has a slightly different sequence in the middle: CAAT, instead of CCAT.

Which of the statements below is true about the alleles for eye color in fruit flies?

Which of the statements below is true about the alleles for eye color in fruit flies?

A)
The alleles for eye color produce the same phenotype.


B)
The small change in the DNA sequence causes the allele to produce a different protein, resulting in the production of white eyes instead of red eyes in the fruit fly.


C)
Changes in the sequence of DNA bases in a gene do not contribute to genetic variation in the fruit fly population

Answer 1

I'm quite sure answer B is correct :)

Answer 2

The correct answer would be B) The small change in the DNA sequence causes the allele to produce a different protein, resulting in the production of white eyes instead of red eyes in the fruit fly.

The amino acid sequence of any protein is determined by the codon sequence of the mRNA which is in turn determined by the nucleotide sequence of the DNA.

Thus, if the nucleotide sequence of the DNA is changed, it will result in the change of amino acid sequence of the protein.

It may result in the change of the structure as well as the function of the protein.

Thus, if the sequence in the gene is changed slightly, it would not result in the production of protein required for a red color trait.

Hence, the eye color of the fruit fly would change to white.