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The freshwater planarian Dugesia (G.) tigrina contains a great diversity of homeobox genes

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Abstract

To identify potential pattern control and cell determination and/or differentiation genes in the freshwater planarian Dugesial (G.) tigrina, we searched for homeobox genes of different types in the genome of this primitive metazoan. We applied two basic approaches: 1) Screening the cDNA library with degenerate oligonucleotides corresponding to the most conserved amino acid sequence from helix-3 of the homeodomain of each family; and 2) PCR amplification of genomic DNA or cDNA, using two sets of degenerated oligonucleotides corresponding to helices 1 and 3 of the homeodomain or two specific domains of the POU family. Using the first strategy we have identified and characterized two tissue-specific cell determination and/or differentiation NK-type homeobox genes. Using the second strategy we have identified several homeobox genes that belong to the HOM/Hox, paired (prd) or POU families.

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Saló, E., Muñoz-Mármol, A.M., Bayascas-Ramirez, J.R. et al. The freshwater planarian Dugesia (G.) tigrina contains a great diversity of homeobox genes. Hydrobiologia 305, 269–275 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036404

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