Lexic.us

Definition of Homeobox

1. Noun. One of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic development.

Definition of Homeobox

1. Noun. (genetics) A short sequence of DNA that is shared by several genes involved in the morphogenesis of many organisms. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Homeobox

1. a short DNA sequence [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Homeobox

1. Conserved DNA sequence originally detected by DNA hybridisation in many of the genes that give rise to homeotic and segmentation mutants in Drosophila. The homeobox consists of about 180 nucleotides coding for a sequence of 60 amino acids in a protein, sometimes termed the homeodomain, of which about 80-90% are identical in the various homeodomains identified from Drosophila. Homeoboxes have also been detected in the genomes of vertebrates, with about 75% amino acid homology and a similar sequence has been found in the MAT gene of yeast. The homeobox codes for a protein domain that is involved in binding to DNA. Three subfamilies of homeobox containing proteins can be identified, based on the archetypal Drosophila genes engrailed, Antennapedia and paired. Interestingly, linear order within genome maps to order of expression in embryo. This may be required for the transcriptional silencing of certain homeotic genes (see Polycomb). (11 Nov 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Homeobox

Literary usage of Homeobox

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Transposable Elements in Plants: Sponsored CRIS/ICAR Projects and Bibliography by Andrew Kalinski (1995)
"Here we use the Knl homeobox to isolate other expressed homeobox genes in maize. The Knl homeobox may permit the isolation of genes that, like animal and ..."

2. Directory of Federal Laboratory and Technology Resources: A Guide to (1993)
"Among the genes cloned have been those for 2-4-D resistance, phytochrome, and for a homeobox that controls development in corn leaves. ..."

3. Researching Health Risks by Office of Technology Assessment, United States, Congress (1993)
"An exciting recent discovery for understanding developmental toxicology has been an understanding of homeobox genes. Studies in mice show that these genes ..."

4. A Bibliography on Computational Molecular Biology and Geneticsby Sarah Barron, Matthew Witten, Gongxian Liu by Sarah Barron, Matthew Witten, Gongxian Liu (1992)
"... A., AND RUDDLE, RH Isolation, chromosomal localization, and nucleotide sequence of the human BOX 1.4 homeobox. ..."

5. Transgenic Animals: Bibliography January 1991-February 1994 by Raymond Dobert (1996)
"... characterization and rooster sperm perservation as a first step in the generation of transgenic chickens with modified homeobox genes. ..."

6. The Neuroscience of Mental Health: A Report on Neuroscience Research edited by Stephen H. Koslow (1997)
"... redefinition of boundaries may come from new and promising studies of the expression of highly conserved regulatory genes such as the homeobox genes. ..."

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