Current Projects
Development of the Jaw Bones
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Bone turn over activity of Mexican tetra
TheMexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus is a single species consisting of two morphs: an eyed, pigmented, surface-dwelling form (surface fish) and an eyeless, unpigmented cave-dwelling form (cavefish). Cavefish have other regressive traits (e.g. loss of pigmentation, reduce optic tectum etc.) and a number of constructive traits (e.g. enhanced gustatory system, enhanced tactile system etc.). Astyanax mexicanus has teeth in all oral jaws (mandible, premaxilla, maxilla) and in the upper and lower pharyngeal bones. Their dentitions under go multiple rounds of tooth replacement. This fish is undergoing a considerable amount of bone remodeling activity through out its entire life. Adaptive traits of bone deposition and resorption activity amongst these two morphs needs to be investigated further. In this study we investigate the precise histological and molecular analysis of osteogenesis process of Mexican tetra. |