Hox and Wnt pattern the primary body axis of an anthozoan cnidarian before gastrulation

Hox gene transcription factors are important regulators of positional identity along the anterior-posterior axis in bilaterian animals. Cnidarians (e.g. sea anemones, corals and hydroids) are the sister group to the Bilateria and possess genes related to both anterior and central/posterior class Hox genes. We explore the relationship of two opposing Hox genes in the cnidarian, Nematostella vectenesis. This study identifies and ancient link between Hox/Wnt patterning during axis formation and suggests that the primary axis is patterned during blastula formation in anthozoan cnidarians.