The Drosophila segmentation gene fffshi tarazu (ffz) is expressed in a pattern of seven stripes at the blasto-’derm stage. Two c&-acting control elements are required for this expression: the zebra element, which confers the striped pattern by mediating the effects of a subset of segmentation genes: and the upstream element, an enhancer element requiring ffz+ activity for its action. Fusion of the upstream element to a basal promoter results in activation of the heterologous promoter in a ftz-dependent striped pattern, supporting the idea that ffz regulates itself by acting through its enhancer. The upstream element can also confer expression patterns similar to that of the homeotic $ ene Anfennapedla, suggesting that a similar element may play a role in the activation of Antennapedia.