ho·me·ot·ic gene 
(hō′mē-ŏtĭk)
(hō′mē-ŏtĭk)n.
Any of various genes that determine the type or location of a body part during an organism's development, especially in the early embryonic development of vertebrates.
[Greek homoiōsis, a being made like, resemblance, from homoioun, to make like, from homoios, like; see HOMEO-.]