Expression of mRNA of the col2a1b gene during Zebrafish Embryogenesis

Our research group is interested in furthering our investigation and elucidating the expression of the Zebrafish\u27s col2a1b Type II collagen gene, an ortholog of the human COL2A1 Type II collagen gene. We utilize the process of in situ hybridization to isolate, identify, and characterize the nature of col2a1b expression in developing Zebrafish. Our study chronologically traces the development and manifestation of this cartilage gene during various stages of embryogenesis, which we use to further our understanding of cellular and genetic processes that regulate growth and establishment of col2a1b collagen. Our study is also interested in the evolutionary history and maintenance of this gene, and we seek to understand its developmental pattern, along with its physiological role, within vertebrates, such as our organism of study, Zebrafish. Phylogenetically, we know that during some time in our evolutionary history, humans lost the secondary orthologue of this gene, which generates questions as to the potential reasons for this loss of genetic material, as well as the maintenance of it within our organism of study. By investigating the evolutionary origins of the col2a1a and col2a1b homologues, we can presume the necessity, and thus continuity, of the two as separate genes