> How did one part decide to become the tip of your nose, and the other the tips of your toes?

Homeobox genes, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphogenesis

Yes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chemical_Basis_of_Morphoge...

But also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_plan#Genetic_basis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeobox

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hox_gene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_regulatory_network

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_potency

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evo-devo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydqReeTV_vk