There is a reason for the -ox ending in genes encoding for transcription factors. Most have something called a "homeobox," a sequence of DNA that encodes a protein "finger" that folds in such a fashion as to anchor the factor to the point where it exerts influence (activating or repressing a certain gene).
sox is the sex-determining transcription factors with an homeobox.
fox is the organ-formation transcription factors with an homeobox.
Usually, the name of the gene is in lower-case and italics, the name of the mRNA coded by it is in lower case (often preceded by an (m)), and the name of the protein is capitalized. A family name is written all in capitals.
So, soxA is a particular gene (the A indicating which one in the family it is, is capitalized), (m)soxA is its mRNA and SoxA is its protein. But often the literature calls the soxA the "SRY region" --until recently they were not sure whether it was only one gene or more.
Ah, and of course SOX is the family of genes that code for transcription factors that regulate sex determination in the zygote/embryo.
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This a spiritual thing and I am the laughing Buddha sitting on top of the world. Donnalee.
"Populace above, populace below! What are 'poor' and 'rich' at present! That distinction did I unlearn,—then did I flee away further and ever further, until I came to those kine." --
Thus Spake Zarathustra / Friedrich Nietzsche.
http://my.funtrivia.com/tournament/Callies-quiz-75578.html
Hugs, Rachel
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