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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

Sinistral snails and gentlemen scientists.

¹Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Institute, Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom. jbg.1000@hermes.cam.ac.uk

|December 6, 2005

Summary

A single gene mutation can reverse the body axis, demonstrating the critical role of maternal effect genes in early development. These genes control fundamental developmental events, a principle known for a century.

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Genetics

Background:

Maternal effect genes are crucial for establishing embryonic polarity and body axis formation.
Early developmental events are precisely regulated by genetic factors inherited maternally.

Purpose of the Study:

To illustrate the significant impact of single gene mutations on body axis determination.
To highlight the role of maternal effect genes in regulating early embryonic development.

Main Methods:

Analysis of a specific gene mutation causing body axis inversion.
Review of historical principles in developmental genetics.

Main Results:

A single gene mutation was found to cause a complete inversion of the body axis (left-right and right-left).

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This mutation serves as a prime example of the broader class of maternal effect genes.

Conclusions:

Maternal effect genes play a fundamental role in establishing the body plan during early development.
The study reinforces a long-standing principle in developmental biology, emphasizing the power of single genes to orchestrate complex developmental outcomes.