Specification of the nerve cell subtypes in the developing central nervous system

The retina has a highly structured organisation, making it an excellent model for neural development. We will investigate the role of candidate genes in generating specific neuron subtypes to study general mechanisms of neural development. Whilst the importance of each subtype for different aspects of visual function is known, little is known about which genes control their fate, the relationship of subtype fates or their common / divergent gene expression history. These aspects remain fundamental questions of developmental biology. Using the power of zebrafish genetics and 4D timelapse in living embryos, the project outcomes include identifying the role of genes and lineage relationships of distinct neuronal subtypes during development.