As with all multicellular organisms, homeotic genes in plants control morphogenesis (how the tissues and organs of the plant are arranged). In maize plants, the homeotic gene KNOTTED1 (abbreviated KN1) helps maintain the indeterminate state of shoot apical meristems.
In wild-type maize plants, KN1 is expressed at high levels in the shoot apical meristem but is expressed at low levels in leaves.
In some mutant maize plants, KN1 is expressed at high levels in leaves. In those plants, outgrowths or knots of adventitious shoot meristems (shoot meristems that appear in abnormal locations on the leaves) form.
Use this information to determine which of the following statements are true.
a. Expression of the KN1 gene in shoot apical meristem cells produces a protein involved in the maintenance of shoot apical meristems.
b. In wild-type maize plants, the KN1 gene is mostly expressed in shoot apical meristem cells.
c. In wild-type maize plants, the KN1 gene is expressed differentially in shoot apical meristem cells and leaf cells.
d. Leaves of the mutant maize plants produce more KN1 protein than leaves of wild-type maize plants.
e. Both the wild-type and mutant maize leaves have the same morphology
f. In mutant maize leaves, the KN1 gene is mostly not expressed.