Hox Genes, a Molecular Constraint for the Development and Evolution of the Vertebrate Body Plan

Abstract

A set of Hox genes expressed during the embryonic process presents a crucial system to set up the body plan in animal phyla. Current systematic approaches, such as bio-imaging, epigenetic regulation and phylogenetic genome comparison, illuminated new comprehensive insights into Hox genes as an evolutionary constraint of the vertebrate body plan, which provides a novel counter-view to give further insights into the evolution and development of the craniofacial and dental systems as non-Hox systems.