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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary developmental biology
  • Comparative anatomy
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The evolution of tetrapod limbs from fish fins is a key question in vertebrate evolution.
  • Structural and developmental differences between fins and limbs have hindered understanding of digit origins.
  • Limited data exists on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fin skeleton development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of 5' hox genes and enhancers in zebrafish fin development.
  • To identify cellular and genetic links between fish fin rays and tetrapod digits.
  • To explore the evolutionary origins of tetrapod digits.

Main Methods:

  • CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in zebrafish.
  • Fate mapping to track cell lineages.
  • Functional analysis of hox genes and enhancers.

Main Results:

  • Hoxa13 enhancer activity marks cells forming fin fold elements, including dermal ray osteoblasts.
  • Hox13 knockout zebrafish exhibit reduced fin rays and increased endochondral distal radials.
  • Demonstrated a cellular and genetic connection between fin rays and tetrapod digits.

Conclusions:

  • Tetrapod digits may have originated from a transition of distal cellular fates in fish fins.
  • Hox13 genes play a crucial role in patterning the distal skeleton of fins, analogous to tetrapod limb development.
  • This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the fin-to-limb transition.