What is a homeotic gene?

1 Answer
Feb 13, 2017

Homeotic genes are genes which regulate the developement of anatomical structure in various organisms.

Explanation:

The regulation is done via the programming of various transcription factors by the homeotic genes and these factors affect genes through regulatory genetic pathways.
This set of genes control the pattern of body formation during early embryonic development.

Homeotic genes contain a sequence of DNA known as homeo box, which encodes a segment of 60 amino acids within the homeotic transcription factor protein. If a mutation occurs in the homeo box of any of the homeotic genes, an organism will not develop correctly.