The Greater Complexity of Humans Compared to Worms and Flies

Question

The greater complexity of humans compared to worms and flies is due to:
A) a greater number of genes.
B) higher levels of alternative splicing.
C) a much greater number of transcription factors.
D) chromatin structure.
E) combinatorial regulation by a greater number of transcription factors.

Accepted Answer

Combinatorial regulation by a greater number of transcription factors is the most likely explanation for the greater complexity of humans compared to worms and flies. This is because the regulation of gene expression is highly complex and combinatorial, with multiple transcription factors and other regulatory proteins working together to control the activity of each gene. Humans have many more transcription factors than worms or flies, which likely contributes to the increased complexity of our development and physiology.