Evolution of development: beyond bicoid

Curr Biol. 2003 Jul 15;13(14):R557-9. doi: 10.1016/s0960-9822(03)00472-x.

Abstract

The Bicoid-based anterior patterning system of Drosophila embryogenesis appears to be unique to higher dipterans. A new study suggests how this may have evolved out of an alternative mechanism based on cooperating Orthodenticle and Hunchback proteins, the two mechanisms intersecting at the level of downstream target genes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Body Patterning / physiology*
  • Drosophila / embryology*
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / physiology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • RNA Interference
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Tribolium / embryology*

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • bcd protein, Drosophila
  • oc protein, Drosophila