Homeobox Genes

Homeotic Genes

Homeobox Genes
Determine how an organisms body develops As it grows from a zygote into a complete organism i.e. They determine the organisms body plan

Homologous
Many organisms of the same kingdom have very similar homeobox genes they are homologous i.e. animal homeobox genes are similar to all animals, plants to plants, fungi to fungi etc Highly conserved gene sequences have existed for millions of years

How do we know what homeobox genes do?

Study effects when the genes go wrong

Normal fruit fly Wings grow in T2 and Halteres in T3

Mutated Fruit Fly Mutation in Homeobox Gene Ubx

Normal Fruit FlyNormal Antp homeobox gene

Mutated Antp homeobox gene

How do homeobox genes work?

Code for a region of 60 amino acids They code for transcription factors bind to DNA and regulate transcription A single homeobox gene can switch on or off a whole collection of other genes (controlling segmentation, establishment of anterior-posterior axis, or particular body parts)

Examples of homeobox genes

Antp
Gene switches on all genes involved in production of a leg

Ubx
Gene switches off all genes involved in production of a wing

HoxA11 and HoxD11 Homeobox Genes

Switch on genes causing forelimb development If a mouse has mutations in both genes, it will not grow a radius or ulna

Thalidomide
Thalidomide drug affected homeobox gene(s) so that the limbs did not form correctly

Growing new organs

http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_gr owing_organs_engineering_tissue.html How does this link to homeobox research?

Apoptosis programmed cell death

Can be triggered to change a body plan E.g. separating bones and forming joints Tadpoles tails are reabsorbed and legs develop as they develop into adult frogs

Human hand and foot development

Fingers and toes develop separately because of apoptosis of cells between them Sometimes this does not happen and the webbed tissue remains

Stages in apoptosis

http://www.whfreeman.com/kuby/content/anm/kb04an01.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdLPpdoU2Nc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjjHKDn12qI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pQ9q8MFWzc&feature=related

Activities
Answer the questions from pages 115 and 117 In pairs, devise a concept map which explains how apoptosis works and why it is important. Use the information from page116 and 117. Explain your map to another pair. Play No full stop : One student starts a sentence about (i) development or (ii) apoptosis. Each subsequent student adds five words to the sentence the aim is never to reach a full stop