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Evo-devo

The secret is in the head

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 2, page 88 (2001)Cite this article

Hox genes encode a family of conserved transcription factors that specify the location of cells along the anterior–posterior axis of the embryo. Amphioxus is like the other invertebrates in that it has a single cluster of Hox genes, whereas all vertebrates have three to eight copies of each set.

Now, these authors show that the control regions of amphioxus Hox genes that pattern the anterior-most structures are recognized in vertebrates, where they can drive expression to specific head structures.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

  1. Manzanares, M. et al. Conservation and elaboration of Hox gene regulation during evolution of the vertebrate head. Nature 408, 854–857 (2000)

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FURTHER READING

  1. Finnerty, J. R. Head start. Nature 408, 778–781 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ferrier, D. E. K. et al. The amphioxus Hox cluster: deuterostome posterior flexibility and Hox14. Evol. Dev. 2, 284–293 (2000) http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/Journals/toc.asp?IssueID=3474

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Authors
  1. Tanita Casci
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Casci, T. The secret is in the head. Nat Rev Genet 2, 88 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35052519

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