Many human diseases originate during prenatal development, and birth defects occur in as many as 3% of live births. In order to ultimately understand, prevent and treat human developmental disorders, we work towards insights into the fundamental pathways that coordinate vertebrate development and shape complex organs. Moreover, changes in developmental processes underlie many evolutionary changes, and insights into development can help us understand the vast natural diversity in body plans across animals species.
Why zebrafish?
Over the past several decades, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a top tier model for developmental and molecular research. Zebrafish are straightforward to rear, manipulate genetically and image at a variety of stages, and a global community of zebrafish researchers has developed a large number of genomic and genetic tools. As zebrafish share a majority of molecular pathways with mammals, including humans, this tractable model is an ideal system for asking fundamental questions vertebrate development. Moreover, unlike humans and other mammals, zebrafish can regenerate, making it 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 essential for generating thrust as a fish moves through the water, and different fin shapes support different swimming dynamics. Our lab is interested in the pathways that create fin shape and pattern different axes of this appendage, and we ask how these pathways may be modulated by evolutionary processes to create natural fin shape diversity across species.
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.
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.
