Barhl1 Background Information Drosophila gene BarH1 contains a homeobox required for external sensory organ fate determination. Homeobox proteins are regulators of place-dependent morphogenesis and play important roles in controlling the expression patterns of cell adhesion molecules. Barhl1 (BarH-like-1) is hypothesized to play a similar role in mouse and human development. In situ hybridization of mouse tissues at various stages of development demonstrate that Barhl1 expression is limited to restricted domains of the developing central nervous system, in particular the diencephalon and rhombencephalon. In the developing CNS, the expression of Barhl1 in migrating cells gives rise to the cerebellar external granular layer.
