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Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

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The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

HOX Loci Focused CRISPR/sgRNA Library Screening Identifying Critical CTCF Boundaries

HOX Loci Focused CRISPR/sgRNA Library Screening Identifying Critical CTCF Boundaries

Published on: March 31, 2019

Shaping segments: Hox gene function in the genomic age.

Stefanie D Hueber¹, Ingrid Lohmann

¹Department of Molecular Biology, AG I. Lohmann, MPI for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

|September 19, 2008

Summary

Hox genes specify body segment identity along the anterior-posterior axis. Understanding their downstream genes is key to deciphering how these genes control animal development and morphogenesis.

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Last Updated: Jun 30, 2026

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Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Three and Four-Dimensional Visualization and Analysis Approaches to Study Vertebrate Axial Elongation and Segmentation

Published on: February 28, 2021

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Genetics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Morphogenesis along body axes is a fundamental mystery in developmental biology.
Hox genes, conserved across metazoans, specify anterior-posterior (AP) axis identity.
Hox genes encode transcription factors regulating downstream genes, but few targets are known.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of Hox genes in shaping AP segmental morphologies in Drosophila.
To discuss findings from large Hox target gene set analyses.
To highlight methods for understanding Hox molecular function and target gene regulation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on Hox gene function and target identification.
Analysis of genome-wide approaches for identifying Hox downstream genes.
Discussion of regulatory mechanisms and Hox protein specificity.

Main Results:

Genome-wide studies have identified numerous Hox downstream genes in Drosophila and vertebrates.
Analysis of large target gene sets provides insights into Hox-controlled morphogenesis.
Recent findings illuminate mechanisms of Hox target gene regulation.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive understanding of Hox downstream genes is crucial for deciphering Hox-controlled morphogenesis.
Hox genes drive morphological diversification through precise regulation of target genes.
Further research into Hox target gene regulation is needed to understand Hox protein specificity.