| Modification Notes |
HOX genes play a fundamental role in the development of the vertebrate central nervous system, heart, axial skeleton, limbs, gut, urogenital tract and external genitalia. These genes are important for morphogenesis in multi-cellular organisms, as they encode a highly conserved family of transcription factors and specify the embryonic body pattern by providing cells with specific positional identities on the anterior-posterior axis. The homeobox gene HOXA11, also designated homeobox 1I (HOX1I), belongs to the AbdB homeobox family. HoxA11 is necessary for fertility in females as it is a regulator of the cyclic development of the adult endometrium and embryonic uterine development. The expression of HoxA11 increases drastically during the mid-luteal stage of the menstrual cycle, which is necessary for implantation of the blastocyst. |