Mexican cavefish

Written By Dzi Tsiu Fu

Credit: Colin Beesley

Outline

  • Originated from surface-dwelling fish; some populations adapted to dark cave environments, becoming eyeless and pigment-less

  • Both surface fish and cavefish are the same species, but show major physiological and genetic differences

  • Some cave populations regained regenerative abilities, unlike their surface counterparts

  • Offers a unique opportunity for intra-species comparison: studying gene expression differences between regenerative and non-regenerative populations

  • Helps pinpoint genes that are upregulated or downregulated during the evolution of regeneration

  • A powerful model for exploring how environmental pressures drive genetic changes in regeneration

Dzi Tsiu Fu
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