#30DAYSOFSCIKUCHALLENGE
Sci-Fly Haiku
What are a few Hox genes between you and a fly…
Fly
From fly to human
Hox genes segment our bodies
And evolve anew
Take a look at a human vertebral column. When stripped away from the confusing and obstructing detritus of the human body, you see a beautiful pattern weaving melodically through space.
This kind of a pattern is called a segmented pattern, because the vertebral column is composed of individual segments that are repeated from our neck (cervical) to lower back (lumbar).
Each segment has a highly specified geometry from seven small cervical vertebrae, to the five large lumbar vertebrae.
The organization of this pattern is critical to life, and alterations of segmentation are often lethal. A developing fetus with defects to this pattern are often stillborn.
The genes that control segmentation are the Hox genes, and were first discovered in flies.
This segmented pattern is shared not only among vertebrates (all animals with a backbone) such as humans, lizards, frogs, fish, and lamprey… but also invertebrates including flies on down to segmented worms.
