Gene that determines the structure of the otoliths

2003/10/28 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Biologia
• Genetika

The otolito is a bone of teleostero fish in the ear. Well, a group of German researchers discovers a gene that influences the shape of the autumn.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute studied the influence of the appearance of the autumn on the attitude of zebra fish. The otolite is composed of calcium carbonate, whose purpose was to alter the crystalline structure of this compound by gene action. And there, transforming a single gene, they managed to change the aspect of the otolite.

The otolito, in fact, is like a flat stone, but with the transformation of the gene, the fish developed an otolito in the form of a star (that of the photo), which made him see that it had problems to orient itself in turbulent waters.

Research of this gene has gained strength now, as it is very similar to a gene related to deafness and tooth growth in humans.