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The Early Evolution of Hox Genes: A Battle of Belief?

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Hox Genes

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 689))

Abstract

For more than a century the origin of metazoan animals and for less than three years the early evolution of Hox genes has been debated. Both discussions are intrinsically tied together. New data from whole genome sequencing and recent progress in phylogeny of basal metazoans allow to provide an answer. The evolution of diploblastic animals (Placozoa, Porifera, Ctenophora and Cnidaria) and Bilateria (all higher animals) went parallel. The early split of these two lineages led to the evolution of a Hox system in Bilateria and the presence of Hox-like genes in Cnidaria and Placozoa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ITZ, Ecology and Evolution, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

    Bernd Schierwater & Kai Kamm

Authors
  1. Bernd Schierwater
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  2. Kai Kamm
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernd Schierwater .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Biology, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France

    Jean S. Deutsch PhD

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© 2010 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Schierwater, B., Kamm, K. (2010). The Early Evolution of Hox Genes: A Battle of Belief?. In: Deutsch, J.S. (eds) Hox Genes. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 689. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6673-5_5

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