You are studying a gene controlling movement in C elegant Yo

You are studying a gene controlling movement in C. elegant. You have isolated a new mutant allele of this gene (designated \"m\" below). You also have access to worms with a deletion of this gene. You use crosses to make various worms of different genotypes and score them for movement. (+ = wild type, m = mutant, Delta = deletion, unci = uncoordinated movement). Phenotypes ranked from least to most severe: +/+

Solution

a) The new mutant allele m is null.

b) Yes,the gene exhibit haploinsufficiency. The wild phenotype, i.e. normal movement is observed only when two copies of the normal allele is present. When only one copy of wild allele is present and other allele is either deleted or mutated, it leads to mildly uncoordinated movement.