Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes Hox genes?

1) they code for traits such as legs or wings in the developing embryo
2) their expression gives positional information to other genes
3) they are transcription factors
4) a and b are correct
5) b and c are correct

Answer 1

The expression of Hox genes provides positional information to other genes and they act as transcription factors, making statement 5 (b and c are correct) the accurate description of Hox genes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is 5) b and c are correct. Hox genes are a group of related genes that control the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis. After the embryonic segments have formed, Hox proteins determine the type of segment structures (e.g., legs, antennae, and wings in fruit flies) that will form on a given segment. Hox proteins thus confer segmental identity but do not form the actual segments themselves.

Hox genes function as transcription factors, which means they provide instructions or positional information for other genes to follow during the development of the embryo. This information will guide the formation of the embryo's body parts at specific positions. The remarkable aspect of Hox genes is their conservation across the animal kingdom, demonstrating a shared evolutionary heritage in the genetic architecture guiding development.