这个基因属于同源盒基因家族。同源盒基因编码一个高度保守的转录因子家族，在多细胞生物的形态发生中起着重要作用哺乳动物有四个相似的同源盒基因簇，HOXA、HOXB、HOXC和HOXD，它们位于不同的染色体上，由9到11个串联排列的基因组成这个基因是位于2号染色体上一个簇中的几个同源盒HOXD基因之一。删除整个HOXD基因簇或该簇5'端的缺失与严重的肢体和生殖器异常有关。这个特殊基因的突变会引起并指畸形[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]
This gene belongs to the homeobox family of genes. The homeobox genes encode a highly conserved family of transcription factors that play an important role in morphogenesis in all multicellular organisms. Mammals possess four similar homeobox gene clusters, HOXA, HOXB, HOXC and HOXD, located on different chromosomes, consisting of 9 to 11 genes arranged in tandem. This gene is one of several homeobox HOXD genes located in a cluster on chromosome 2. Deletions that remove the entire HOXD gene cluster or the 5' end of this cluster have been associated with severe limb and genital abnormalities. Mutations in this particular gene cause synpolydactyly. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]