Apterous is a LIM-homeodomain protein that confers dorsal compartment identity in Drosophila wing development. Apterous activity requires formation of a complex with a co-factor, Chip/dLDB. Apterous activity is regulated during wing development by dLMO, which competes with Apterous for complex formation.

Are Apterous wings recessive?

Genetics. In traditional or Mendelian genetics, the gene for apterous flies is a recessive trait. This means that a fruit fly must get the gene for aptery from both parents. If the fly has a single copy of the gene for normal wings, it will mask the presence of the gene for aptery and the fly will develop normal wings.

What does the Apterous gene do?

First, Apterous is responsible for making the dorsal cell distinct from ventral, a property that may be due to its activating the gene Dorsal wing (Tiong, 1995). Second, Apterous regulates the expression of boundary determining proteins such as Fringe and Serrate.