Wilkes Honors College and Florida Atlantic University

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Behavior

Behavioral Approaches to Studying Innate Stress in Zebrafish

Jacqueline S.R. Chin¹, Lydia T. Albert², Cody L. Loomis^1,3, Alex C. Keene^1,3, Erik R. Duboué^1,2,3

¹Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, ²Wilkes Honors College and Florida Atlantic University, ³Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University

This manuscript describes a simple method to measure stress behaviorally in adult zebrafish. The approach takes advantage of the innate tendency that zebrafish prefer the bottom half of a tank when in a stressful state. We also describe methods for coupling the assay with pharmacology.

JoVE Journal

Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish

Bethany A. Stahl^1,2, James B. Jaggard^1,2, Jacqueline S.R. Chin^1,2, Johanna E. Kowalko^2,3, Alex C. Keene^1,2, Erik R. Duboué^2,3

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, ²Jupiter Life Science Initiative, Florida Atlantic University, ³Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University

We describe approaches for the manipulation of genes in the evolutionary model system Astyanax mexicanus. Three different techniques are described: Tol2-mediated transgenesis, targeted manipulation of the genome using CRISPR/Cas9, and knockdown of expression using morpholinos. These tools should facilitate the direct investigation of genes underlying the variation between surface- and cave-dwelling forms.