Why do HOX genes occur in clusters?

Question

Ivy Acosta · Accepted Answer

Because of the way they evolved.

This matter has actually not been resolved completely. Why Hox genes occur in clusters is most likely because they evolved from the duplication of a homeobox gene in a distant ancestor. See this answer for more information on the evolution of Hox genes. Because this replication the genes ended up next to each other and developed further to code for specific different cell types. This type of evolution resulted in two interesting phenomena: It seems plausible that it is convenient for a cell to have the genes in clusters to time their expression. However, there is also research that shows that clustering is not essential. So, there is more to it and still enough to discover! If you would like to read more on the regulation of Hox-genes I can recommend the article by Mallo & Alonso 2013 .

Elias Aboujaoude · Answer

undefined HOX genes occur in clusters because they are inherited as a unit and are regulated together during development. This arrangement allows for coordinated regulation of gene expression, which is essential for proper body patterning and development.