Chapter 19, Problem 14PIAT

Summary Introduction

To review:

The effectiveness of the enhancers associated with the dark or blond hair in driving the expression of the Kitl mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid).

Introduction:

KITLG gene is controlled by an enhancer and it also expresses itself for hair color in humans apart from other phenotypic traits. The signaling proteins that bind to the cell-surface receptor are coded by this gene in the cell.

In the given experiment, the Kitl gene (mouse equivalent of KITLG gene) and its core promoter were bonded together by genetic engineering. The amount of Kitl mRNA was measured in the skin after its introduction in the embryo of a mouse. The results are shown in the graph provided below. Probability is given as *P < 0.05 and &*P **lt; 0.001.