adjective
- relating to or denoting a mutation or gene that causes one body part to develop in place of another, typically in insects
Usage: biology; genetics; technical
Examples
- The homeotic mutation in the fruit fly caused legs to grow where antennae should be.
- Scientists study homeotic genes to understand how body segments develop.
- A homeotic transformation can result in dramatic changes to an organism's physical structure.
- The classic homeotic mutant in Drosophila is the Antennapedia complex.
- Homeotic mutations reveal how developmental genes control body plan organization.