Axis Formation in Drosophila

These flashcards are designed to help students understand key vocabulary terms related to the concept of axis formation in Drosophila, including definitions and significance within biological processes.

Dorsal

The back or upper side of an organism.

Anterior

The front or forward part of an organism.

Posterior

The rear or back part of an organism.

Oogonium

The female germ cell from which oocytes develop.

Cytokinesis

The process of cell division that results in the separation of the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells.

Follicle Cells

Somatic cells surrounding the oocyte in the ovary, which assist in oocyte development.

Kinesin Motor

A type of motor protein that transports cellular cargo along microtubules, often involved in the localization of mRNA.

Microtubules

Cylindrical structures that form part of the cytoskeleton and are involved in cellular transport and structure.

Bicoid

A maternal mRNA localized at the anterior end of Drosophila embryos that helps establish the anterior-posterior gradient.

Nanos

A maternal mRNA localized at the posterior end of Drosophila embryos that plays a role in posterior development.

Gurken

A localization determinant involved in the establishment of the anterio-posterior axis in Drosophila oocytes.

MAP Kinase

A signaling molecule involved in various cellular processes, including differentiation and development.

PKA (Protein Kinase A)

An enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups, significant in regulating cellular function.

PAR-1

A protein involved in establishing polarity during Drosophila oocyte development.

Hunchback

A protein that acts as a transcription factor in Drosophila, influenced by the anterio-posterior gradient.

Caudal

A transcription factor that specifies posterior development in Drosophila embryos.

Nurse Cells

Cells that provide nutrients and support to the developing oocyte in the ovary.

Oocyte

The female gamete or egg cell in the ovary.

Anterio-posterior Axis

The developmental gradient that determines the front and back polarity of an organism.

MTOC (Microtubule Organizing Center)

Structures that facilitate the growth and organization of microtubules within the cell.