Question

What defines telson and acron?

A) Number of segments in a Drosophila embryo
B) Types of appendages in Drosophila
C) Head and tail regions in an insect embryo
D) Specific gene expressions in the wing development

Answer 1

Telson and acron define the tail and head regions, respectively, in an insect embryo. These areas are integral to the body plan development, governed by Hox genes in organisms like Drosophila.

Step-by-step explanation:

The terms telson and acron refer to the head and tail regions in an insect embryo, specifically answer choice C. The acron is the anterior-most part of the insect, comparable to the head region, while the telson is located at the posteriormost end, comparable to the tail region. Both are essential during the development of the insect's body plan which is influenced by various genes, including the Hox genes.

The Hox genes play a substantial role in determining the body plan of organisms like Drosophila. A single cluster of these genes maps out the anterior to posterior arrangement of the body plan in fruit flies. Mutations in these genes can cause dramatic transformations, such as legs growing where antennae should be, due to the specificity of gene expression for forming different segments and appendages.