MGA2 16-26c

Bithorax homeotic mutant of Drosophila

    The Ultrabithorax (Ubx) mutant causes transdetermination of the T3 (Haltere) compartment to differentiate as the next most anterior T2 (Wing) compartment. Note that this is not exactly a fly with four wings, but actually a fly with two thoraxes.

    Recall that flies (Diptera) have only one pair of wings, whereas other insects have two pairs. It has been suggested that flies may have evolved from four-winged ancestors by reverse transdetermination of the T3 compartment.



All text material © 2008 by Steven M. Carr