Homeotic Gene (Noun)
Meaning
One the genes that are involved in embryologic development.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The homeotic gene, also known as Hox gene, plays a crucial role in determining the fate of cells during embryonic development.
- Mutations in the homeotic gene can lead to developmental abnormalities and birth defects, such as extra limbs or organs in unusual locations.
- In the fruit fly, Drosophila, homeotic genes are responsible for specifying the identity of different body segments during embryogenesis.
- The duplication and diversification of homeotic genes during evolution have allowed for the formation of more complex body plans in higher organisms.
- During embryonic development, the expression of homeotic genes is tightly regulated by transcriptional regulators and chromatin modifications.