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Comment on How does DNA decide the shape of the body?

NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

So in the end Hox genes are probably what you are looking for.

Thank you! I will read up on that.

If leg Hox genes are expressed where fruitfly normally have antennae, you get this horror:

So, a core part of my question is what causes certain genes to be expressed in certain places in the body, and specifically how this comes about from genetics alone (i.e. not artificially in lab experiments). In my past searches I did find some info about forcing gene expression in places where it wouldn’t normally happen, which creates horrors similar to the one you shared, but I never found an answer for how this is controlled in natural development. Hox genes seem to be the answer I’m looking for :)

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neuropean@kbin.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Here’s a fantastic and entertaining short video on how it works: https://youtu.be/ydqReeTV_vk?si=AyKJPZIzwaSCvZxv

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- dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Huh… it never ceases to amaze me how many quite large channels that I would absolutely enjoy, like this, are not recommended to me. Even though I watch content very similar and live on YT.
  
  Thanks for sharing.
  
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- NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  How is this so good hole crap
  
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  - neuropean@kbin.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    I have no idea, he operates on his own level. All of his videos are top quality.
    
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Donjuanme@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I would start by looking at plant genetics, if you think about it they; are simpler to understand, they never stop growing (expressing those genes), are much less specialized (cells cannot just be told that they are certain organs because of their surrounding cells, if a root penetrates the surface it no longer needs to be a root right?) actually has more factors in deciding how to specialize (animal cells only need to orient themselves up once, plants cells are constantly orienting themselves, both against gravity, and the wind, and sometimes in response to other plants, these things all have generic controls).

Plant biology is a great stepping stone to a lot of what you’re looking for.

DNA is like the secret recipe at KFC (except it has 40 spices with names for 64, but quite a few of those names are homonyms for the same spice, and 3 of those spices aren’t spices but instructions for when to stop adding spices), with a, millions of peoples rely on it, from cashier’s and cooks, to janitors franchisees, CEOs and builders, some of these are more hands on with the recipe, while others are way down the line, but none of them have ever seen the recipe first hand. The DNA is kept from harm by being hidden away where only DNA readers and multipliers have access to it, everything that is produced by the DNA gets (this metaphor is so tortured) broken down into what spices are needed in which order, the spice mixers and bakers are pretty damn familiar with the instructions, those would be RNA and proteins, but just because they get good instructions doesn’t mean they’re free from outside influence, they’re outside of the vault after all.

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