In class we discussed the role of oscillatory expression of specific genes as a mechanism for making somites (body segments) in vertebrates.
Suppose that you have previously identified the stretch of regulatory DNA that controls the oscillatory expression of such factor in a given species of snakes. As you investigate further, you notice that both the binding site for activators and repressors have medium/average strength.
Then you start investigating a closely related snake species. The adult snakes are the same length, but the second species has more but shorter body segments (somites).
Knowing what you know about the regulatory sequence of this important oscillatory factor in the first species, formulate and defend a hypothesis about how changes in the binding sites for activators and repressors could explain the development of shorter but more numerous segments in the second species.