In labs, scientists have introduced mutations in fruit fly genomes to create flies legs growing where their antenna should be. Explain why changing the nucleotides in the Hox genes could cause this.

The Hox genes control how body parts are shaped and arranged. Genes are sections of DNA that code for a particular protein; they give the organism its visible traits. Altering the nucleotide sequence in this section of DNA alters protein synthesis. This change causes a completely different body part to grow.