CRISPR Improves Behavioral Choice of Zebrafish to Prey-like Visual Stimuli

A study published in Neuron shows that deleting the Calmodulin-interacting peptide Pcp4a gene regulates the behavioral choice of zebrafish. This breakthrough is essential for understanding the influences on zebrafish's decision-making in response to various external stimuli and internal needs.

Animals make fundamental behavioral decisions towards objects in their environment. To thrive and survive in complex environments, animals decide whether to approach or avoid potential danger. The researchers found that food intake represses the Pcp4a gene, a key regulator in the behavioral choice of zebrafish. Thus, the researchers deleted the Pcp4a gene to make the food-deprived fish behave like the fed ones in response to prey-like stimuli.

These mutant lines were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. The results of the study suggest that the deletion of the Pcp4a gene did not affect the visual processing and motor impairments of zebrafish. As a result, zebrafish take fewer risks with the objects in their environment and become less responsive to prey-like visual stimuli.

For more information, read the journal article from Neuron.