Question

Drosophila sex determination involves the regulation of alternative RNA splicing by the sex-lethal (Sxl), transformer (tra), and doublesex (dsx) genes. Match each effect on Drosophila sexual development with the gene deletion that would cause it.

1) absence of female-determining regulatory protein yields male traits in females
2) male-specific splicing of dsx yields male traits in females
3) absence of male-determining regulatory protein yields female traits in males
4) male-specific splicing of tra yields male traits in females

Answer 1

The sex-lethal (Sxl), transformer (tra), and doublesex (dsx) genes regulate alternative RNA splicing in Drosophila sex determination. The deletion of Sxl leads to male traits in females, dsx causes male-specific splicing and male traits in females, and absence of dsx leads to female traits in males. Deletion of tra causes male-specific splicing and male traits in females.

Step-by-step explanation:

The gene deletion that would cause an absence of female-determining regulatory protein, resulting in male traits in females, is the deletion of the sex-lethal (Sxl) gene.

The deletion of the doublesex (dsx) gene would lead to male-specific splicing of dsx, resulting in male traits in females. For an absence of male-determining regulatory protein, yielding female traits in males, the deletion would be of the doublesex (dsx) gene.

Finally, male-specific splicing of tra, resulting in male traits in females, would be caused by the deletion of the transformer (tra) gene.