Developmental Genetics History Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of fertilization?

Functions - sex and reproduction - to confer the sex of the organism - to reproduce the organism

What are the main events during fertilization?

Main Events - contact and recognition of sperm and egg - mechanisms that ensure the contact of the same members of the same species - regulation of sperm entry into the egg

What is the process that prevents multiple sperm from fertilizing the same egg?

Block polyspermy

What are the outcomes of the fusion of male and female pronuclei?

Radical cytoplasmic rearrangement Signup and view all the answers

How do invertebrates attract sperm for fertilization?

Species-specific attraction (chemotaxis) - Cnidarians secrete chemotactic factors and regulate the time of release Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of prostaglandin in the ovary?

Contraction of smooth muscles to extrude the egg from the blister Signup and view all the answers

How does progesterone contribute to the process of ovulation?

Activates collagenase Signup and view all the answers

Why does only one out of 15-20 oocytes mature during the process of resumption of meiosis in mammals?

Follicles capable of producing more estrogen survive; the rest become atretic Signup and view all the answers

What causes some Graafian follicles to secrete more LH receptors than others?

Competition among follicles Signup and view all the answers

What factor does the follicle that will mature secrete to suppress the growth of other follicles?

Suppressing factor Signup and view all the answers

Who received the Nobel Prize in relation to developmental genetics?

Spemann Signup and view all the answers

What did Rita Levi Montalcini and Viktor Hamburger study in the 1950s?

Nerve growth factors Signup and view all the answers

What did Hal Waddington analyze much later in terms of developmental genetics?

Wing malformation of Drosophila Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 main types of embryology mentioned in the text?

Descriptive embryology, Comparative embryology, Experimental embryology Signup and view all the answers

What powerful techniques were mentioned in the text for studying genes in development?

Knock out and knock in genes, PCR Signup and view all the answers

What are the Drosophila sp. and Caenorhabditis elegans referred to as in the text?

The Rosetta stone of molecular biology Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fertilization Overview

Main function of fertilization: To combine male and female gametes, resulting in the formation of a zygote.
Key events during fertilization include sperm binding to the egg, activation of the egg, and fusion of gametes.
A process preventing multiple sperm from fertilizing the same egg is called the cortical reaction, which induces changes in the egg’s membrane after the first sperm entry.

Outcomes of Pronuclei Fusion

Fusion of male and female pronuclei results in the formation of a diploid zygote, establishing genetic material from both parents.

Sperm Attraction and Hormonal Role

Invertebrates attract sperm through chemical signals released into the surrounding environment.
Prostaglandins in the ovary play a role in ovulation and are involved in the contraction of smooth muscle during egg release.
Progesterone contributes to ovulation by preparing the endometrium for potential implantation and regulating reproductive processes.

Oocyte Maturation and Follicle Dynamics

Only one out of 15-20 oocytes matures during meiosis resumption due to selective dominance, where one follicle outgrows and outcompetes others.
Some Graafian follicles secrete more LH receptors influenced by factors like hormonal signaling and local ovarian environment.
The dominant follicle secretes inhibins and other factors to suppress the growth of other follicles, ensuring its maturity.

Developmental Genetics Milestones

The Nobel Prize in developmental genetics was awarded to key figures in the field, acknowledging significant contributions to understanding genetic regulation in development.
Rita Levi Montalcini and Viktor Hamburger conducted studies on nerve growth factors and their role in neuronal differentiation during the 1950s.
Hal Waddington later analyzed genetic mechanisms pertaining to development and evolution, contributing to a deeper understanding of embryology.

Types of Embryology and Research Techniques

The three main types of embryology are comparative embryology, experimental embryology, and developmental biology.
Powerful techniques for studying genes in development include CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and RNA interference.
Drosophila species and Caenorhabditis elegans are frequently referred to as model organisms in the context of developmental genetics research.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the history of Developmental Genetics, including notable figures like Spemann, Montalcini, Hamburger, Gluecksohn-Schoenheimer, and Waddington. Learn about their contributions to the field and the significant discoveries in nerve growth factors, limb development in chicks, and axial mesoderm formation.