Homeobox Gene

**Semantic type:** Gene or Genome

**Definition:** A family of genes that contain a highly conserved sequence of approximately 180 nucleotides, which encode an approximately 60 amino acid helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain made up of 2 antiparallel alpha helices and one nearly perpendicular alpha helix connected by short chains of unstructured amino acid sequences. This gene family is involved in transcriptional regulation during embryonic development.

**Synonyms:** - Homeobox Family Gene - Homeodomain Gene - Hox Gene