Hox genes. "General purpose" control genes are important elements in building complicated organisms like flies. ... For example, Hox genes help lay out the basic body forms of many animals, including humans, flies, and worms. They set up the head-to-tail organization.

What is the purpose of HOX genes?

HOX genes are a family of regulatory genes that encode transcription factors and are essential during embryonic development. These genes are highly conserved between species such that all metazoans possess a common genetic system for embryonic patterning.

How do HOX genes control development?

Hox genes, a subset of homeobox genes, are a group of related genes that specify regions of the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis of animals. Hox proteins encode and specify the characteristics of 'position', ensuring that the correct structures form in the correct places of the body.