BMS1021 PASS – Week 5

Learning objectives:
 Describe the basic stages of development, Hox genes and Homeobox mutations
 Understand the difference between genetic and teratogen-induced birth defects using examples
 Describe the basis of Down Syndrome and the effects of thalidomide and alcohol on the foetus

MCQ:
1) What is the name given to the group of transcription factors giving positional information to an
organism during its development?
a) Hox genes
b) Homeobox genes
c) Homeodomains
d) Somites
2) What results from a mutation to a Hox gene?
a) Homeotic transformation
b) Mirror duplication of a limb
c) Fusion of limbs as they are growing out
d) Failure for a limb to grow
3) Which of the following is not a basic stage of development?
a) Gastrulation
b) Limb Growth
c) Morphogenesis
d) Cleavage
4) What results when transplantation of leg bud mesoderm is transferred to the wing bud in Chick
embryos?
a) The wing will become chimeric for wing base but leg tip
b) The limb will fail to grow and the animal will lack a wing here
c) A leg will form where the wing should be
d) The wing will mirror duplicate itself
5) Which of the following does not influence the effect of a teratogen?
a) Developmental stage at time of exposure
b) Genotype of the mother and the foetus
c) Dose and duration
d) Time of the day
6) Which of the following is correct about Down Syndrome?
a) It is due to monosomy 21
b) It is due to non-disjunction during mitosis
c) It leads to the over-expression chromosome 21
d) It does not affect the phenotype
7) Which option correctly matches the teratogen with its effect?
a) Xenoestrogens → 'DES daughters'
b) Thalidomide → Amelia
c) Alcohol → impaired testis function
d) Diethylstilbestrol → FAS
8) During which stage does somitogenesis occur?
a) Gastrulation
b) Pattern formation
c) Morphogenesis
d) Cell differentiation
9) Which of the following is true about homeobox genes?
a) They exist only in Drosophila melanogaster.
b) They lay the pattern for dorsal-ventral segments.
c) The genes are expressed in overlapping areas.

Ashley.fuller@monash.edu
BMS1021 PASS – Week 5

d) A single cluster of homeobox genes is found in mammals.

Short Answer:
1) Describe each of the 6 basic stages of development.

2) What is the difference between Hox genes, Homeobox genes and Homeodomains? Try to write a 1-
2 sentence definition of each.

3) Describe the process of segmentation by somitogenesis and how each of the somites adopts its
eventual fate?

4) Explain the co-linear arrangement of Hox genes in mammals ? What would happen if a Hox gene
from the thorax region was activated in the head region of Drosophila melanogaster and what is
the name of this condition?

5) Describe the basis of Downs Syndrome.

Ashley.fuller@monash.edu
BMS1021 PASS – Week 5

6) Create a table outlining the difference between genetic and teratogen-induced birth defects.
Provide examples of both types of birth defects.

Genetic birth defects Teratogen induced birth defects

Description

Examples

7) Describe the effects of thalidomide and alcohol on the foetus.

Thalidomide Alcohol

8) Explain DOHaD and provide an example to illustrate this.

Extension:
1) Explain the situation by which a wildtype, heterozygote mutant, and homozygote mutant mouse
for HoxA9 will develop its vertebrae.
2) Define endocrine disruptors and give an example.

Ashley.fuller@monash.edu