Grim Reaper (gene)
Encyclopedia
The Grim Reaper gene is a gene
found in Drosophila
fruit flies. It is involved in triggering apoptosis
of larval salivary gland tissue during pupation, as part of the irregular development of adult flies.
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
found in Drosophila
Drosophila
Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...
fruit flies. It is involved in triggering apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
of larval salivary gland tissue during pupation, as part of the irregular development of adult flies.