[Campbell Biology P.435] Based on Figure 18.21 and the accompanying text, what is the charac... | Practice Question

Based on Figure 18.21 and the accompanying text, what is the characteristic phenotype of a Drosophila larva whose mother has two mutant bicoid alleles?

  • A: It has a normal head but lacks all abdominal segments.
  • B: It has two heads and a normal tail.
  • C: It lacks the front half of its body and has posterior structures at both ends, resulting in a 'two-tailed' appearance.
  • D: It is significantly smaller than a wild-type larva but otherwise normally proportioned.

Explanation

The text states: 'An embryo or larva whose mother has two mutant bicoid alleles lacks the front half of its body and has posterior structures at both ends Figure 18.21 .' The figure visually confirms the 'two-tailed' appearance.