The HOX gene is highly conserved, and as a result, HOX genes, in general, are a reliable gene to use in creating a phylogenetic tree with a wide variety of species. It has been established in many studies done in the past that HOX genes are highly conserved throughout evolution (Gaunt, 1994). Highly conserved genes are genes that do not often change due to their vital role in the body or the cell. Because the highly conserved genes do not change often, they are especially useful in determining the phylogeny of evolutionarily distant species. Studies have already established that HOXC genes are highly conserved and a good indicator of phylogeny in early vertebrates, specifically in cartilaginous fish (Koraku, 2011).
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