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Definition of Homeobox gene
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Homeobox gene: A gene containing a short DNA sequence of about 180 base pairs referred to as a homeobox. Homeobox genes encode proteins that bind and regulate the expression of DNA in multicellular organisms. Homeoboxes are present in the genomes of many organisms from fruit flies to humans, and they appear to determine when particular groups of genes are expressed during embryonic development.