Genetic Control of Drosophila Embryonic Pattern Formation

昆虫黑腹果蝇异构体平面的发展已成为研究胚胎形态形成的遗传和分子基础的主要模式系统。这一建议的目的是全面研究受精卵早期作用基因之间的相互作用，这些基因控制随后的基因表达，并决定细胞群的命运。通过使用分子探针(克隆DNA和抗体)来研究野生型和各种突变胚胎中的基因表达，将系统地解剖控制模式调控基因表达的时间、地点和水平的遗传系统。这些研究揭示的个体调控现象最终可能会在生化水平上进行研究，以确定基因调控和功能的机制。对果蝇的研究揭示了发育的概念框架与任何复杂有机体的基本方面有关。控制细胞增殖、原肠形成、胚层分化、位置特异性基因表达以及身体部分和附属物的数量和分化是所有复杂动物的中心主题。通过利用果蝇可用的遗传方法，并将其与先进的分子和胚胎学技术相结合，很可能会比其他任何动物物种更多地了解果蝇的生长、发育和分化。从一个简单的受精卵发育成复杂的动物是生物学中有待解决的最重要的问题之一。在卡罗尔博士的实验室里，他正在研究果蝇体内控制这一过程的基因，果蝇是发育研究中最被理解的遗传模型系统之一。通过研究这些基因及其编码的蛋白质分子，他的目标是了解细胞是如何被组织成不同的群体，以形成动物身体的不同组织、器官和区域。

The development of the metameric body plan of the insect Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as the principal model system for studying the genetic and molecular basis of embryonic pattern formation. The objectives of this proposal are to make a comprehensive study of the interactions between early-acting genes of the zygote that control subsequent gene expression and determine the fates of groups of cells. By using molecular probes (cloned DNA and antibodies) to study gene expression in wild-type and a great variety of mutant embryos, the genetic system that controls the time, place and level of pattern- regulating gene expression will be systematically dissected. Individual regulatory phenomena revealed by these previous studies may eventually be studied at the biochemical level in order to determine the mechanisms of gene regulation and function. The conceptual framework of development being revealed by studies in Drosophila relates to the fundamental aspects of any complex organism. The control of cell proliferation, gastrulation, germ layer differentiation, position-specific gene expression, and the number and differentiation of body parts and appendages are central themes to all complex animals. By exploiting the genetic approach available in Drosophila and combining it with advanced molecular and embryological techniques, it is likely that more will be known about the growth, development, and differentiation of the fruit fly than any other animal species. %%% The development of a complex animal from a simple fertilized egg is one of the most important problems in biology that remains to be solved. In Dr. Carroll's laboratory, he is studying the genes that control this process in the fruit fly, one of the best understood genetic model system for developmental studies. By studying these genes, and the protein molecules that they encode, he aims to understand how cells are organized into distinct groups to form the different tissues, organs, and regions of the animal's body.