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#gene identity

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Drosophila -ll

Thoracic segment identity gene:

Thoracic segment identity depends on Antennapedia complex genes Sex combs reduced, Antennapedia, and adjacent Ultrabithorax. Antennapedia specifies second thoracic segment by promoting leg and dorsal mesothorax formation, while repressing head development programs in trunk. In Antepedia mutants, T2 transforms toward antenna or head fate; in gain-of-function, antenna becomes leg. Nanos governs posterior abdominal development, Gurken and Pipe control dorsal-ventral polarity, unrelated to thoracic identity. Therefore Antennapedia serves as thoracic selector gene interpreting segmentation cues and executing thoracic morphogenetic programs via activation of thoracic-specific effectors like apterous, vestigial, and decapentaplegic signaling modulators required for leg patterning and wing induction.

Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 20: Antennapedia as thoracic selector gene - second thoracic segment identity.

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plant Development - 1

Floral meristem identity genes specify:

Floral meristem identity genes LEAFY, APETALA1, CAULIFLOWER act as master developmental switches converting indeterminate shoot apical meristem into determinate floral meristem upon flowering induction via FT-FD florigen complex integrating photoperiod, vernalization, autonomous, and gibberellin signals. They suppress KNOX internode elongation, activate ABC homeotic genes specifying sepal, petal, stamen, carpel identities, and enforce whorled phyllotaxy with determinate growth. Mutants produce inflorescences where flowers are replaced by shoots bearing leaf-like bracts, demonstrating specific role in floral identity specification rather than general shoot meristem maintenance or organogenesis control.

Ref: Coen & Meyerowitz, Nature 1991; Weigel & Meyerowitz: floral meristem identity genes specify determinate floral meristem.

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