Objectif Colour patterns are prominent features of many animals and have important functions in communication such as camouflage, kin recognition and mate selection. Colour patterns are highly variable and evolve rapidly leading to large diversities even within a single genus. As targets for natural as well as sexual selection, they are of high evolutionary significance. The zebrafish (Danio rerio), a vertebrate model organism for the study of development and disease, displays a conspicuous pattern of alternating blue and golden stripes on the body and on the anal- and tailfins. Mutants with spectacularly altered patterns have been analysed, and novel approaches in lineage tracing have provided first insights into the cellular and molecular basis of colour patterning. These studies revealed that the mechanisms at play are novel and of fundamental interest to the biology of pattern formation. Closely related Danio species have very divergent colour patterns in body and fins offering the unique opportunity to study development and evolution of colour patterns in vertebrates building on the thorough analysis of one model species. Our research in zebrafish will explore the basis of direct interactions between chromatophores mediated by channels and junctions. We will investigate the divergent mode of stripe formation in the fins and the molecular influence of the cellular environment on chromatophore interactions. In closely related Danio species, we will investigate the cellular interactions during pattern formation. We will analyse transcriptomes and genome sequences to identify candidate genes providing the molecular basis for pigment pattern diversity. These candidate genes will be tested by creating mutants and exchanging allelic variants using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The work will lay the foundation to understand not only the genetic basis of variation in colour pattern formation between Danio species, but also the evolution of biodiversity in other vertebrates. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biologymolecular geneticsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolorsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Mots‑clés Danio species zebrafish biodiversity pigmentation chromatophore melanophore cell-cell interaction Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-ADG-2015 - ERC Advanced Grant Appel à propositions ERC-2015-AdG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Institution d’accueil MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 250 000,00 Adresse HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Allemagne Voir sur la carte Région Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Type d’activité Research Organisations Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 250 000,00 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Allemagne Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 250 000,00 Adresse HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Voir sur la carte Région Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Type d’activité Research Organisations Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 250 000,00