Research projects

Craniofacial morphology is a complex but interesting trait with high variety within a species while maintaining the particular morphology of the species. Logical questions have been posed in order to address variations in cranial morphology, such as how these traits are inherited, which genes regulate the diversity, and how differences between individuals within a species are generated during developmental or life processes. To answer these questions, we had performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses using medaka. QTL analysis suggested the relationships between L33 and chromosome (chr) 6, D29 and chr 15, D29 and chr 22, and V13 and chr 5. Narrowing analysis using congenic strains revealed that about 5 Mbp region of chr 6 affects to L33. On the other hand, D29 were failed to be confirmed the relationships with both chr 15 and 22. V13 was turned out to be too unstable to analyze further.