Pax-6 is a gene that is involved in eye formation in many invertebrates, such as Drosophila. Pax-6 is also found in vertebrates. A Pax-6 gene from a mouse can be expressed in a fly and the protein (PAX-6) leads to a compound fly eye. This information suggests which of the following characteristics of this gene?
A) Pax-6 genes are identical in nucleotide sequence.
B) PAX-6 proteins have identical amino acid sequences.
C) Pax-6 is highly conserved and shows shared evolutionary ancestry.
D) PAX-6 proteins are different for formation of different kinds of eyes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that Pax-6 is involved in eye formation in both invertebrates and vertebrates suggests that it is highly conserved and shows shared evolutionary ancestry.

Pax-6 Is a Gene That Is Involved in Eye Formation