What is homeo-box?

A consensus sequence of about 180 base pairs discovered in homeotic genes in Drosophila. Also found in other developmentally important genes from yeast to human beings. A family of quite similar l80base-pair DNA sequences that encode a polypeptide sequence called a homeo-domain, a sequence-specific DNA binding sequence. While the homeobox was first discovered in all homeotic genes, it is now known to encode a much more widespread DNA-binding motif.