Kalmar "homeobox" tana nufin jerin DNA da ke samuwa a cikin kwayoyin halitta da yawa kuma suna taka muhimmiyar rawa wajen bunkasa kwayoyin halitta. Kwayoyin halittar Homeobox suna da alhakin daidaita maganganun wasu kwayoyin halittar da ke sarrafa samuwar tsarin jiki yayin ci gaban amfrayo. Jerin homeobox yana ɓoye yankin sunadaran da ake kira homeodomain, wanda ke da hannu wajen ɗaure ga DNA da daidaita maganganun kwayoyin halitta. Maye gurbi a cikin kwayoyin halittar homeobox na iya haifar da rashin daidaituwa da cututtuka.