Homeotic transformations are genetic mutations that result in one body part being replaced by another. Among the most intriguing mechanisms underlying these transformations is the regulation by HOM-C/Hox, a group of metazoan genes organized into multi-gene clusters. These genes exhibit coordinated spatial and temporal expression patterns that align with their chromosomal arrangement. Recent advances in epigenetics have shed light on their role as "timers," orchestrating this coordination. This lecture will explore these topics, incorporating perspectives from evolutionary biology and genomics.