In some species of fruit flies, males have black spots on the edges of their win

Question

In some species of fruit flies, males have black spots on the edges of their wings, which they use for visual displays during courtship dances with females, while in other species these spots are completely absent. A gene called yellow plays a role in the development of these visual features in all of the species. Differences in the amount and spatial distribution of the yellow protein are due to which of the following? Wing enhancer Abdomen enhance Transoription Black bdoninal band yelow gene Binding stes spor New binding Lost binding adifferent gene sequences that are recognized as the yellow gene in different fruit fly species the effects of regulatory enhancers on the yellow gene fruit fly species without wing spots lacking the yellow gene altogether "the yellow gene only being expressed in fruit fly species with wing spots

Explanation / Answer

Differences in the amount and spatial distribution of the yellow protein are due to b) the effects of regulatory enhancers on the yellow gene.

Sean B. Carroll, an evolutionary developmental biologist, examined the genetic sequences present in the area of the yellow gene and emphasized the role of regulatory enhancers. He found that the species of fruit flies without spots contains a regulatory enhancer. This enhancer specifically allows the yellow gene to express the yellow protein all over the wings. However, the expression level is low. This enhancer is also responsible for the occurrence of yellow spots in other areas of the wing but with a higher level of expression. That's how it creates differences in the amount and spatial distribution of the yellow protein.
He also found that the binding sites associated with the transcription of the yellow protein have been evolved in the spotted species of fruit flies. These evolved binding sites allows the expression of black spots on the wings along with the yellow spots. However, their expression did not affect the expression of the yellow gene. This means that the same enhancer also affects the development of black wing spots in males and these black spots on the wings play an important role in attracting a mate.

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