Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Stanhope, Bethany

Abstract

Uncovering the genetic and regulatory mechanisms driving the formation of organs is essential to understand how these complex structures form, lending insight to developmental aberrations from disease or deficiencies. The blind Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus can be utilized to study the development of the visual system, including the eye. Previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) were aligned to the Astyanax genome, and subsequently used to encounter genes related to the selective regression of eyes in cave populations, which ultimately identified the gene RNA terminal phosphate cyclase-like 1 (Rcl1) for further study. To examine the function of this gene in vivo, CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis was employed to knockout Rcl1 in both Astyanax and a closely related fish model Danio rerio. These preliminary results imply the role of Rcl1 in the development of the eye and a plausible role in evolved eye degeneration in Astyanax.

Comments

Thesis (B.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2022

Extent

26 p.

Identifier

FAUHT00186

Download

Share

COinS