If a mutation alters a maternal effect gene in a female Drosophila zygote, which of the following is most likely to occur?
A) She will not develop past the early embryonic stage.
B) All of her offspring will show the mutant phenotype, regardless of their genotype.
C) Only her male offspring will show the mutant phenotype.
D) Only her female offspring will show the mutant phenotype.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Maternal effect genes are those whose mRNA or protein products are deposited in the egg by the mother and are crucial for early development. If a mutation occurs in one of these genes in a female Drosophila, it affects the development of her offspring because they rely on the maternal gene products present in the egg for their early development stages. Therefore, all of her offspring will exhibit the mutant phenotype, regardless of their own genotype, because the phenotype is determined by the maternal genotype for these specific genes.

If a Mutation Alters a Maternal Effect Gene in a Female