A Simultaneous Genetic Screen for Zygotic and Sterile Mutants in a Hermaphroditic Vertebrate (Kryptolebias marmoratus).

The mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, is unique among vertebrates due to its self-fertilizing mode of reproduction involving an ovotestis. As a result, it constitutes a simplistic and desirable vertebrate model for developmental genetics as it is easily maintained, reaches sexual maturity in about 100 days, and provides a manageable number of relatively clear embryos. After the establishment and characterization of an initial mutagenesis pilot screen using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, a three-generation genetic screen was performed to confirm zygotic mutant allele heritability and simultaneously score for homozygous recessive mutant sterile F2 fish.

Establishing developmental genetics in a self-fertilizing fish (Krytolebias marmoratus).

Kryptolebias marmoratus is a synchronous hermaphroditic vertebrate that utilizes an ovotestis for reproduction. This fish develops externally, is easy to maintain, and has about a 100-day life cycle, making it a desirable developmental genetic model organism. Here, we present a pilot zygotic mutant screen utilizing the common chemical mutagen, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to establish genetics in this model species.