Final answer:
Both mice and fruit flies share the pax6 gene, which is crucial for the development of light-sensitive eye receptors, making the statement true.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether both mice and fruit flies share a gene called pax6, which regulates the differentiation of cells to develop into light-sensitive receptors. The answer is true. The pax6 gene indeed plays a crucial role in eye development and is highly conserved across a wide range of species, including mice and fruit flies. This gene's function is vital for the formation of the eyes during developmental processes known as organogenesis.
In various model organisms studied in biological research, including Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and mice (Mus musculus), the pax6 gene has been found to be essential for proper eye development. Moreover, studies on model organisms like fruit flies have significantly contributed to the understanding of genetic regulation during development, including eye formation.