Research

Why Development?

Evolutionary changes originate with changes in development, and insights into developmental processes can help us understand the vast natural diversity in body plans across vertebrate species. Moreover, many human diseases originate during prenatal development, and congenetal abnormalities occur in as many as 3% of live births. In order to understand, prevent and treat developmental disorders, we work towards insights into the fundamental pathways that coordinate development and shape complex organs.

Why Zebrafish?

Over the past several decades, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become an exceptional model for developmental and molecular research. Zebrafish are straightforward to rear, manipulate genetically and image at a variety of stages, and the global community of zebrafish researchers has developed a large number of genomic and genetic tools. As zebrafish share most molecular pathways with mammals (including humans!) they are an ideal system for asking fundamental questions about vertebrate development. Furthermore, unlike mammals, zebrafish can regenerate entire organs, making them an excellent model to study how a vertebrate can rebuild missing tissue and damaged structures.

Thyroid Hormone

Thyroid hormone stimulates amphibian metamorphosis, and our lab uses the zebrafish as a model for how this endocrine factor stimulates developmental transformations in an organism without an ecological metamorphosis. We alter thyroid hormone production study the tissue- and cell-level effects of hormone signaling on developmental patterning.

Fin Shape

The caudal (tail) fin is generates thrust as a fish moves through the water, and different fin shapes support different swimming dynamics in diverse species. Our lab is interested in the pathways that create forked fin shape and pattern the proximodisal axis of this appendage, and we ask how these pathways may be modulated by evolutionary processes to create natural fin shape diversity across species. Image by Yinan Hu.

Regenerative Patterning

Zebrafish possess remarkable regenerative abilities, and adults are able to reactivate developmental processes to regrow amputated structures. Our lab asks how mature tissues are able to interpret their position and rebuild the original, uninjured shape of an organ. Images by Ben Acosta.

Craniofacial Development

Changes to processes that form the skull underlie a multitude of continental disorders, and are targets for adaptive evolution. We work towards understanding how skeletal elements are integrated with each other during development of the zebrafish skull and jaws. Images by Anna Redgrave.

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