Question

Development is often modular. For example, head traits like width and height often change in concert, and independently of traits in other parts of the body such as femur length.

A)   Why might this make sense given what you know about Hox genes?

B) Would you expect more or less constraint on the evolution of development as the number of Hox genes increases? Why?

Answer 1

Ans A. The hox genes figures out the basic structure of human beings from head to toe. Hox genes directs the process and play a vital role in the evolutionary change. It shares a 60 amino acid DNA motif a homeodomain. In association with other proteins the homeodomains regulate gene expression. The Hox genes functions during embryonic development.

Ans B. Overexpression of HOX genes is associated with the altered epigenetic regulation. The upregulation leads to the number of malignancies and myeloid leukamia is one such case which is associated with it.