Zebrafish models of human digestive disease

Although mutations affecting the digestive organs and other viscera were reported in the original zebrafish mutagenesis screens, they only accounted for a minority of total number recovered. In subsequent work, novel screening assays facilitated the recovery of additional mutations affecting these organs. Here I describe two representative mutations that disrupt the development and physiology of the zebrafish intestine and liver. Molecular characterization of these mutations has shown them to be highly relevant to human cancer biology and hepatic lipid metabolism.