May play a role in the scarless healing of cutaneous wounds during the first two trimesters of development. In fetal skin, highest expression found in cells of mesodermal origin within the dermal papilla of the developing hair shaft. Not detected in epidermis or dermis. In adult skin, weakly expressed within the basal layers of the epidermis. Not expressed in dermis. Higher expression in fetus than in adult. Belongs to the paired homeobox family.