alleryStart learning →The Curly allele in Drosophila is a recessive lethal. What does it do in a heterozygous fly?
AIt kills the fly during larval development
BIt has no detectable effect on the fly at all
CIt removes the wings from the adult fly
DIt alters the shape of the fly's wings
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. It alters the shape of the fly's wings
1. A recessive lethal allele can also give the heterozygote an altered but survivable phenotype.
2. The Curly allele affects wing shape in the heterozygote form.
3. It is lethal only in the homozygote, so the heterozygous fly lives.
4. Having no detectable effect would be the alternative outcome for a recessive lethal, but Curly does show one.
5. The wings are altered in shape rather than removed altogether.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 12 "Mendel's Experiments and Heredity", section 12.2 Characteristics and Traits_
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