Hunchback (gene)

Hunchback is a maternal effect and zygotic gene expressed in the embryos of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In maternal effect genes, the RNA or protein from the mother’s gene is deposited into the oocyte or embryo before the embryo can express its own zygotic genes.

Hunchback is a morphogen, meaning the concentration gradient of Hunchback at a specific region determines the segment or body part it develops into. This is possible because Hunchback is a transcription factor protein that binds to genes’ regulatory regions, changing RNA expression levels.