Advancing Human Disease Research with Fish Evolutionary Mutant Models

Overview

Journal Trends Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 2021 Aug 2

PMID 34334238

Citations 13

Authors

Emily A Beck

Hope M Healey

Clayton M Small

Mark C Currey

Thomas Desvignes

William A Cresko

John H Postlethwait

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Model organism research is essential to understand disease mechanisms. However, laboratory-induced genetic models can lack genetic variation and often fail to mimic the spectrum of disease severity. Evolutionary mutant models (EMMs) are species with evolved phenotypes that mimic human disease. EMMs complement traditional laboratory models by providing unique avenues to study gene-by-environment interactions, modular mutations in noncoding regions, and their evolved compensations. EMMs have improved our understanding of complex diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and aging, and illuminated mechanisms in many organs. Rapid advancements of sequencing and genome-editing technologies have catapulted the utility of EMMs, particularly in fish. Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates, exhibiting a kaleidoscope of specialized phenotypes, many that would be pathogenic in humans but are adaptive in the species' specialized habitat. Importantly, evolved compensations can suggest avenues for novel disease therapies. This review summarizes current research using fish EMMs to advance our understanding of human disease.

Citing Articles

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