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PLoS Genetics Issue Image | Vol. 15(12) January 2020

Tuning genetic circuitry to overcome a deleterious mutation

Zebrafish mef2ca mutants display variable craniofacial phenotypes. In this study, we showed that selective breeding for penetrance of mutant phenotypes can rapidly produce strains of fish that are highly sensitive to, or resilient against the deleterious mutation. Comparing the selectively bred strains reveals that artificial selection can change the genetic circuitry. Specifically, the downstream genes her6 and dlx5a are tuned so that the initial dysregulation is later corrected during patterning of the pharyngeal arches, shown here by in situ hybridization and the fli1a:EGFP transgene.

Image Credit: Raisa Bailon, University of Colorado Denver.

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Tuning genetic circuitry to overcome a deleterious mutation

Zebrafish mef2ca mutants display variable craniofacial phenotypes. In this study, we showed that selective breeding for penetrance of mutant phenotypes can rapidly produce strains of fish that are highly sensitive to, or resilient against the deleterious mutation. Comparing the selectively bred strains reveals that artificial selection can change the genetic circuitry. Specifically, the downstream genes her6 and dlx5a are tuned so that the initial dysregulation is later corrected during patterning of the pharyngeal arches, shown here by in situ hybridization and the fli1a:EGFP transgene.

Image Credit: Raisa Bailon, University of Colorado Denver.

https://doi.org/10.1371/image.pgen.v15.i12.g001