Frequently, important dna regions with specific functions tend to contain short stretches of nucleotides that are conserved across different organisms (e. g., promoter sequence) and are recognized by specific proteins. what are these conserved sequences called?

The answer is homeobox. A homeobox is a DNA sequence found within genes that are involved in the regulation of patterns of anatomical development morphogenesis in animals, fungi, and plants. An example of homeobox is the hox gene that determines the identity of embryonic regions along the anterio-posterior axis.