What is the function of homeotic genes?

Homeotic genes play a critical role in the development of an organism by controlling the formation and arrangement of body structures during embryonic development. These genes provide the instructions that determine the identity of body segments and the structures that will develop in those segments, essentially dictating how an organism's body plan is organized.

For instance, in fruit flies (Drosophila), mutations in homeotic genes can lead to body parts developing in incorrect locations, such as legs growing where antennae should be. This underscores their function as regulators of developmental fate, influencing whether a group of cells will become a particular body part. By establishing the identity and placement of these structures, homeotic genes are crucial for proper anatomical development across various organisms.