PAIRRULE GENE

pair-rule gene: translation

A segmentation gene, expressed sequentially between gap genes and segment-polarity genes. In development of Drosophila, a set of about 8 genes that are expressed only in alternate segments (odd or even) of the developing embryo. Loss-of-function mutants thus lack alternate segments. Examples: even-skipped ( eve ), fushi tarazu ( ftz ), hairy.