ABSTRACT Homeotic (Hox) genes specify the differential identity of segments along the body axis of insects. Changes in the segmental organization of arthropod bodies may therefore be driven

by changes in the function of Hox genes1,2,3, but so far this has been difficult to demonstrate. We show here that changes in the expression pattern of the Hox genes _Ubx_ and _AbdA_ in

different crustaceans correlate well with the modification of their anterior thoracic limbs into feeding appendages (maxillipeds). Our observations provide direct evidence that major

morphological changes in arthropod body plans are associated with changes in Hox gene regulation. They suggest that homeotic changes1,4 may play a role in the normal process of adaptive

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Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS EXITES IN CAMBRIAN ARTHROPODS AND HOMOLOGY OF ARTHROPOD LIMB BRANCHES Article Open access 30 July 2021 EVOLUTION OF

STICKLEBACK SPINES THROUGH INDEPENDENT _CIS_-REGULATORY CHANGES AT _HOXDB_ Article Open access 01 September 2022 NON-COLLINEAR HOX GENE EXPRESSION IN BIVALVES AND THE EVOLUTION OF

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discussion; K. Rützler and the Smithsonian Institution for hosting our collecting expeditions at Carrie Bow Caye in Belize; R. White for the FP6.87 antibody; G. Wyngaard for _Mesocyclops_;

E. Chang for _Homarus_ embryos; M. Sepanski for help with electron microscopy; A. Crittenden and L. Brown for technical assistance; and M. Palopoli, R. Chasan and S. Cohen for comments on

the manuscript. This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust (M.A.), the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (N.H.P.). AUTHOR INFORMATION Author

notes * Michalis Averof Present address: EMBL, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Wellcome/CRC Institute, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1QR, Cambridge, UK

Michalis Averof & Nipam H. Patel * HHMI, University of Chicago, MC1028, N-101, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, 60637, Illinois, Chicago, USA Nipam H. Patel Authors * Michalis Averof View

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CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Nipam H. Patel. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Averof, M., Patel, N. Crustacean appendage

evolution associated with changes in Hox gene expression. _Nature_ 388, 682–686 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/41786 Download citation * Received: 25 March 1997 * Accepted: 10 June 1997 *

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