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.
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