homeobox
/ˈhoʊmiəˌbɑks/
noun
- A short segment of DNA found in many genes that controls the development of body structures in animals and plants.
- Mutations in a homeobox can cause serious birth defects in developing embryos.
- The homeobox sequence is remarkably similar across many different species, from flies to humans.
- Scientists discovered that the homeobox is responsible for telling cells where to form a head or a tail.