Some Questions and Answers About the Role of Hox Temporal Collinearity in Vertebrate Axial Patterning

Abstract

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The vertebrate anterior-posterior (A-P = craniocaudal) axis is evidently made by a timing mechanism. Evidence has accumulated that tentatively identifies the A-P timer as being or involving Hox temporal collinearity (TC). Here, I focus on the two current competing models based on this premise. Common features and points of dissent are examined and a common model is distilled from what remains. This is an attempt to make sense of the literature.

Keywords

• Hox genes
• time space translation
• axial patterning
• gastrulation
• stem cells
• Hox-Hox interactions