Question

Let’s say there is a gene known as X that is expressed in the developing forebrain and midbrain (located anteriorly), and a gene known as Y that is expressed in the developing hindbrain (located posteriorly). Describe one experiment to confirm that another gene, Z, which encodes a transcription factor, activates the expression of Y but represses the expression of X in the developing hindbrain; be sure to include your expected result.

Answer 1

To determine whether Z gee is responsible for the activation of Y gene and repression of X gene in the hind brain portion of mice, following experiment may be performed

Two mice model are taken. In one mice, Z gene is made mutated or the Z gene may be knocked out. In other mice no such changes are made in Z gene.

During development of hind brain, the transcriptome analysis from hind brain will be performed by northern blot or microarray technique from both the mice. If we observe that in the mice in which Z gene is mutated or excised out, Y gene is repressed and X gene is activated and in the mice in which Z gene was normal, Y gene is activated and X gene is suppressed in the hind brain, then we can conclude that definitely, Z gene has a role in X gene repression and Y gene suppression in the hind brain portion of mice.