A Mutation That Causes One Body Part to Look Like

Question

A mutation that causes one body part to look like another is known as a(n)
A) automutation.
B) homeotic mutation.
C) heteromic mutation.
D) xenotic mutation.
E) bithorax mutation.

Accepted Answer

A mutation that causes one body part to develop the characteristics of another body part is known as a homeotic mutation. This term is commonly used in reference to mutations in genes that control the development of body segments in insects, which can cause structures like legs to develop in the wrong place or in the shape of wings, for example. The other answer choices (automutation, heteromic mutation, xenotic mutation, bithorax mutation) are not commonly used terms in genetics or developmental biology.