Q27 - Fruitless Isoforms Separate Appearance from Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation in Drosophila matings (male with female, versus male with male, versus female with female) can be controlled by the gene fruitless. Fruitless mRNA is cut (spliced) in multiple ways to give two forms, FRUITLESS-A and FRUITLESS-B. The sexual development and sexual orientation of WT and fruitless knockout flies, and flies which express either FRUITLESS-A or FRUITLESS-B, were studied.
Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.
A. Fruitless controls the development of appearance in flies.
B. FRUITLESS-A causes flies to court females.
C. FRUITLESS-B has a role in determining the sexual orientation of female flies.
D. FRUITLESS-A and FRUITLESS-B perform the same role in male and female flies.
Question reproduced from IBO 2017, Theoretical Exam B, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Official answer key & worked solutions