Question

What is the function of the bicoid gene?

Answer 1

It is a gene consisting of an effect of the maternal side found in the case of the Drosophila during the process of embryogenesis. It was responsible for the morphology and pattern of the body of the Drosophila.

Complete answer
The bicoid gene produces a protein that is responsible for the formation of anterior and posterior patterns or forms an axis in the Drosophila during the process of their embryogenesis. This gene is responsible for the maternal effect. It is the first step that occurs in the process of the formation of the anterior and posterior patterns. This protein helps come under the category of few proteins that bind with both the DNA and the RNA and helps in the process of the transcription which results in the formation of RNA and the process translation which results in the synthesis of the protein.
These genes are the unique type of genes that are found in flies, especially Drosophila. If these genes are absent in the embryos then they will not be able to develop the head and thorax region of the Drosophila. These genes are located in the anterior region of the Driossophila’s body in the case of wild eggs. It was the first known protein that was called the morphogen and was first identified by Christiane Nusslein- Volhard in 1988. The role of the morphogen is to dissolve or mix in between the cells and the embryo and will control the embryonic developments, this embryonic development depends upon various concentration gradients.

Note:
The bicoid protein is rich in arginine and is similar to one of the HIV proteins and helps in the binding of the nucleic acids. This gene also acts as the repressor of the caudal mRNA and thus results in the enhancement of the transcription.