homeobox gene
- noun
- /ˈhoʊməˌbɑks dʒin/
- Specialized
:
gen homeobox
- If I am doing research on the homeobox gene (did I get it right, David?), will I change what I am doing because 500 more people read articles on some other gene?
Examples
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And yes, homeobox, exactly right, but note that it is a DNA binding motif, with most species having many genes that could be classified as "homeobox genes," so really it's more a gene family; there is no one "homeobox gene."
Blog text (20) -
Now some of the evidence on that have come from gene expression data, homeobox gene expression in particular.
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And yes, homeobox, exactly right, but note that it is a DNA binding motif, with most species having many genes that could be classified as "homeobox genes," so really it's more a gene family; there is no one "homeobox gene."
Blog text (20) -
Research on the homeobox gene has revealed its crucial role in embryonic segmentation.
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The homeobox gene is essential for regulating the body plan during early development in various species.
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Scientists discovered that mutations in the homeobox gene can lead to significant developmental abnormalities in embryos.
Synonyms
A piece of DNA that tells an animal where to grow body parts like legs
A gene that controls how body parts form in an embryo
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound: 'homeobox' names a specific DNA sequence and 'gene' denotes a DNA segment, so 'homeobox gene' directly means a gene containing a homeobox sequence. Although technical, the semantic composition is transparent and parallels other scientific compounds, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Homeobox gene gets its name from a short piece of DNA called the homeobox, a tiny 'box' of letters that gives cells a simple 'address' for their 'home' place in the body. That's why homeobox genes tell body parts where to form during early development.
