Ancient origin of the Hox gene cluster.
The Hox gene cluster has a crucial function in body patterning during animal development. How and when this gene cluster originated is being clarified by recent data from Cnidaria, a basal animal phylum. The characterization of Hox-like genes from Hydra, sea anemones and jellyfish has revealed that a Hox gene cluster is extremely ancient, having originated even before the divergence of these basal animals.
School of Animal & Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AJ, UK. d.e.k.ferrier@reading.ac.uk
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D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D006829:Hydra / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D037401:Scyphozoa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics