[Campbell Biology P.516] Dr. Extavour's research on germ cells revealed a surprising finding... | Practice Question

Dr. Extavour's research on germ cells revealed a surprising finding regarding gene function. Which statement accurately describes one of these findings?

  • A: Genes responsible for germ cell production in one organism always perform the same function in closely related species.
  • B: All multicellular organisms use an identical set of genes to specify germ cell fate.
  • C: A gene that produces germ cells in one organism might produce a different cell type in a closely related organism.
  • D: Germ cells are unique because they contain a different set of genetic instructions compared to somatic cells in the same organism.

Explanation

The text states: "We've found that in some cases, the same genes are used by a variety of different species to make germ cells. But in other cases, we've been surprised to find that a gene used to produce germ cells in one organism is used to make a completely different type of cell in another closely related organism." Option C directly reflects this surprising finding.