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What is the phenotype of a male homozygous for bicoid loss-of-function alleles?

User Komron
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Final answer:

A male homozygous for bicoid loss-of-function alleles in fruit flies would result in embryonic lethality, as bicoid is essential for the development of the embryo's anterior structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenotype of a male homozygous for bicoid loss-of-function alleles would be non-viable in fruit flies, as bicoid is a critical gene for early development. In Drosophila, bicoid is responsible for establishing the anterior part of the embryo. A complete loss of function would thus lead to a failure to develop the head and thoracic structures, resulting in embryonic lethality. The defining characteristics of such a phenotype would never manifest in a live adult fly because the organisms with this genotype do not survive to maturity. This reflects the essential nature of certain genes in developmental processes.

User Kasium
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