IRX3 is a member of the Iroquois homeobox gene family (see IRX1; MIM 606197) and plays a role in an early step of neural development (Bellefroid et al., 1998 [PubMed 9427753]). Members of this family appear to play multiple roles during pattern formation of vertebrate embryos (Lewis et al., 1999 [PubMed 10370142]).[supplied by OMIM, Aug 2009].