In the nematode C. elegans, the vulva forms from a group of six vulval precursor cells...

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Biology

In the nematode C. elegans, the vulva forms from agroup of six vulval precursor cells (VPCs). These cells give riseto the three vulval lineages: 1Âº (central vulva), 2Âº (lateralvulva), and 3Âº (hypodermis). Experiments have determined that thesecells constitute an â€œequivalence groupâ€, meaning that they are eachcapable of forming all three vulval lineages. The crucial factor intheir fate decision turns out to be their proximity to the anchorcell, which is a cell located in the central region of the gonad ofthe developing worm:
These experiments suggest that some signal produced by theanchor cell is required to specify vulval fates. You have decidedto carry out a study to identify the molecular basis for thissignal. You begin by performing a genetic screen for mutants thatlack a vulva (â€œvulvalessâ€ mutants). One of the mutations youidentify in this screen affects a gene called lin-3, whichencodes a secreted protein related to the epidermal growth factor(EGF) family.
**Propose a hypothesis about the possible role oflin-3 in vulval specification in the C. elegansembryo.**

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4.4 Ratings (760 Votes)

According to the question the absence of lin3 gene stops thevulva development in Celegans Another clue is that lin3 is anepidermal growth factor like proteinit is very obvious from the clues that lin3 acts as a signallingmolecule that is received by receptors on the surface of vulvaprecursor See Answer

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