Knocking out a Hox gene can help understand its function in Drosophila. However,

Question

Knocking out a Hox gene can help understand its function in Drosophila. However, in vertebrates knocking out only one Hox gene is not enough.

a. True: in vertebrates all paralogs of a Hox gene must be mutated

b. True: in vertebrates all orthologs of a Hox gene must be mutated

c. False: in both Drosophila and vertebrates a single knock out is enough

d. False: Drosophila also requires the knock out of all Hox paralogs

If someone could clarify this a bit more for me I would greatly appreciate it :)

Explanation / Answer

HOX genes are paralogs. That means they are homologues genes that occur within one species and have diverged after a duplication event. These genes generally maintain the same function as their ancestors. So, in vertebrates knocking out the multiple paralogs is necessary to understand their function.

Hence, the correct option is (a). True: in vertebrates all paralogs of a Hox gene must be mutated.

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