Region‐specific expression of murine <i>Hox </i>genes implies the <i>Hox</i> code‐mediated patterning of the digestive tract

Abstract

The visceral mesoderm-restricted expression suggested that the Hox code primarily functions in the mesenchymal specification which eventually leads to the regional differentiation of gut subdomains as the result of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Overlapping expression patterns were found among the paralogous Hox genes, indicating that the paralogues may have redundant functions in the specification of the gut.