homeoboxn.
/ˈhəʊmɪə(ʊ)bɒks/, /ˈhɒmɪə(ʊ)bɒks/, U.S. /ˈhoʊmiəˌbɑks/ Genetics and Molecular Biology.
A distinctive highly conserved DNA sequence of about 180 base pairs which is present in many homeotic and certain other genes in a wide variety of eukaryotes and which codes for the homeodomain.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [noun] > gene > parts of gene
protosome1931
hot spot1958
homeobox1984
1984 W. McGinnis et al. in Nature 29 Mar. 433/2 Since faithful copies of the H repeat are strictly delimited and found only in homeotic genes, we now call the H repeat the ‘homeotic sequence’. However, it seems clear that not all homeotic genes carry the homeobox.
1990 New Scientist 3 Nov. (Suppl.) 3/1 Once they had found the homoeobox, scientists looked for it in other genes and in other animals. The result was a flood of homoeobox genes.
2004 W. Arthur Biased Embryos & Evol. xv. 176 Possession of a homeobox identifies a gene as being involved in the control of others.
Compounds
homeobox gene n. a gene containing a homeobox; cf. Hox n.2
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1985 Science 6 Sept. 1013 Comparative expression of homeobox genes in fly and mouse.
1991 Sci. Amer. Aug. 91/2 Transplanting a mouse homeobox gene into Drosophila has produced legs..where a normal fly has antennae.
2004 R. Dawkins Ancestor's Tale xxvi. 422 Hox genes are not synonymous with homeobox genes. Plants and fungi do have homeobox genes but they don't have Hox genes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1984