Homeotic genes and the evolution of arthropods and chordates

Nature. 1995 Aug 10;376(6540):479-85. doi: 10.1038/376479a0.

Abstract

Clusters of homeotic genes sculpt the morphology of animal body plans and body parts. Different body patterns may evolve through changes in homeotic gene number, regulation or function. Recent evidence suggests that homeotic gene clusters were duplicated early in vertebrate evolution, but the generation of arthropod and tetrapod diversity has largely involved regulatory changes in the expression of conserved arrays of homeotic genes and the evolution of interactions between homeotic proteins and the genes they regulate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthropods / genetics*
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Chordata, Nonvertebrate / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Homeobox*
  • Morphogenesis / genetics
  • Multigene Family