Annual Review of Genetics
Vol. 39: 9-22 (Volume publication date December 2005)

The Genetics of Hearing and Balance in Zebrafish

Teresa Nicolson

Oregon Hearing Research Center and Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239

Abstract:

The zebrafish is an excellent model system for studying the molecular basis of inner ear development and function. The eggs develop ex utero and the ear is transparent for the first few weeks of life. Forward genetic screens and antisense technology have helped to elucidate the signaling pathways and molecules required for inner ear development and function. This review addresses the most recent advances in our understanding of how the ear forms and discusses the molecules in hair cells that are essential for sensing sound and movement in the zebrafish.

[This item has been included because a post on the lateral line and the proposed internal evolutionary mechanism will eventually appear in the Personal Posts category of this weblog]

technorati tags: lateral+line, zebrafish, genetics, ear, weblog