Genetic screens for mutations affecting adult traits and parental-effect genes

Forward genetics remains an important approach for the unbiased identification of factors involved in biological pathways. Forward genetic analysis in the zebrafish has until now largely been restricted to the developmental period from zygotic genome activation through the end of embryogenesis. However, the use of the zebrafish as a model system for the analysis of late larval, juvenile and adult traits, including fertility and maternal and paternal effects, continues to gain momentum. Here, we describe two approaches, based on an F3-extended family and gynogenetic methods, that allow genetic screening for, and recovery of mutations affecting post-embryonic stages, including adult traits, fertility, and parental effects. For each approach, we also describe strategies to maintain, map, and molecularly clone the identified mutations.