When maternal Mad is depleted in embryos by expressing Scer\GAL4mat.αTub67C.T:Hsim\VP16-driven MaddsRNA.Scer\UAS.P\T, embryos display segmental patterning defects. The ventral denticle belts are expanded along the dorso-ventral axis and display fusions between segments. The denticle fusions are caused by lawns of denticles that replace naked cuticle.
Expression of MaddsRNA.Scer\UAS.P\T produces dsRNA which results in dsRNA interference (RNAi) of the Mad gene.