BILD 3 Chapter Notes - Chapter Extra: Homeobox, Evolutionary Developmental Biology
30 May 2016
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Biologists in the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or evo-devo, compare developmental processes of different multicellular organisms. Aim: to understand how these processes have evolved and how changes in them can modify existing organismal features or lead to new ones. Specifies a 50-amino-acid homeodomain in the encoded proteins. An identical or very similar nucleotide sequence has been discovered in the homeotic genes of many invertebrates and vertebrates. Sequences are so similar between humans and fruit flies. Homeotic genes in animals were named hox genes. Homeotic genes were the first genes found to have this homeobox sequence. Other homeobox-containing genes were later found that they don"t act as homeotic genes. They do not directly control the identity of body parts, but are associated with development, suggesting their ancient and fundamental importance in the process.
