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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Scalable Model to Study the Effects of Blunt-Force Injury in Adult Zebrafish
Published on: May 31, 2021
An Adult Zebrafish Model of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
Melissa LaBonty1,2, Pamela C Yelick3,4
1Program in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare human skeletal disease caused by constitutively activating mutations in the gene ACVR1, which encodes a type I BMP/TGFβ family member receptor. FOP is characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) of fibrous tissues, including skeletal muscle, tendons, and ligaments, as well as malformation of the big toes, vertebral fusions, and osteochondromas. Surgical interventions in patients often result in enhanced HO, which can exacerbate rather than improve diagnostic outcomes. As a result of these difficulties, a variety of animal models are needed to study human FOP. Here we describe the methods for creating and characterizing zebrafish conditionally expressing Acvr1lQ204D, the first adult zebrafish model for FOP.
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