What is homology?
Homology shows descent from a common ancestor and the similarities among different species. This can be seen in a wide variety of ways.[1] Figure 1 shows an example of homology in skeletal structure among several different species. This same concept can be applied to proteins and genes.
Figure 1: Homology among arm skeletal structure of several different organisms. Similar bones are colored to show their relationship.
What are model organisms?
Model organisms are organisms that researchers use to conduct experiments. There are several organisms that are widely used in research because of beneficial characteristics they have.[2] Some common model organisms are Drosophila melanogaster, Danio rerio, Mus musculus, and Caenorhabditis elegans. Drosophila are often used because they reproduce quickly in large numbers and are complex enough to be used in development or learning studies. Danio rerio are an advantageous organism in development studies because their embryo is nearly transparent. They also share many body systems with vertebrates that some other model organisms lack. Mice are used as a model organisms because they are 85% similar to humans genetically and are still relatively easy to care for in a lab setting. C. elegans are used as model organisms because it passes through distinct phases of life and have a semi-transparent body which makes them easy to image. Additionally, they have a short lifespan and can be produced in large numbers.[3]
FERMT1 homology
The homologous proteins to FERMT1 in model organisms are linked below
Homo Sapiens
Drosophila melanogaster
|
Danio rerio
|
Mus musculus
Brachypodium distachyon
|
Caenorhabditis elegans
|
Zebrafish as a model for kindler syndrome
Zebrafish have been used to study FERMT1 mutations and Kindler syndrome because they model the skin blistering phenotype with a fragile fin phenotype. Figure 2 shows the phenotype from a previous study.[4]
Figure 2: Medial fins of wild type and rupture of fin (rof) zebrafish. The rof fish have FERMT1 mutations.
Discussion
Zebrafish are a good model organism to study Kindler syndrome because FERMT1 in zebrafish is closely related to humans in function, and the fish are less expensive than mice to maintain. They display an easily observed phenotype and survive FERMT1 mutation. Additionally, they have genes like FERMT2, similar to humans, which have been used in gene function recovery experiments.[4]
Header Image: piergen564s18.weebly.com/model-organisms.html
Human: www.clipart.email/clipart/male-human-body-silhouette-105336.html
Fruit Fly: www.clipart-library.com/clip-art/mosquito-silhouette-png-18.htm
Zebrafish: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgtgc2016.sciencesconf.org%2Fconference%2Fgtgc2016%2FYvesClement_2016.07.01_GTGC.pdf&psig=AOvVaw3OSzzPEah2nDhbn3ibyZrP&ust=1582740105733000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCIiz08Ck7ecCFQAAAAAdAAAAABBP
Mouse: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mouse-mouse-silhouette-lab-mouse-2814846/
Worm: http://haasegen564s17.weebly.com/homology.html
Grass: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252764597814467384/
Figure 1: timescavengers.blog/evolution/homology/
1. Weber, C. & Ponting, C. "Genes and Homology." (May 4th, 2004). Accessed 5/9/2020 from https://www.cell.com/current-biology/comments/S0960-9822(04)00287-8
2. “Using Research Organisms to Study Health and Disease.” National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Accessed 5/9/2020 from www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/using-research-organisms.aspx.
3. Mullan, A. & Marsh, A. “Common Model Organisms Used in Molecular Biology.” (February 2019). Oxford Instruments. Accessed 5/9/2020 from andor.oxinst.com/learning/view/article/common-model-organisms-used-in-molecular-biology.
4. Postel, Ruben, et al. “Kindlin-1 Mutant Zebrafish as an In Vivo Model System to Study Adhesion Mechanisms in the Epidermis.” (September 2013). Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Human: www.clipart.email/clipart/male-human-body-silhouette-105336.html
Fruit Fly: www.clipart-library.com/clip-art/mosquito-silhouette-png-18.htm
Zebrafish: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgtgc2016.sciencesconf.org%2Fconference%2Fgtgc2016%2FYvesClement_2016.07.01_GTGC.pdf&psig=AOvVaw3OSzzPEah2nDhbn3ibyZrP&ust=1582740105733000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCIiz08Ck7ecCFQAAAAAdAAAAABBP
Mouse: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mouse-mouse-silhouette-lab-mouse-2814846/
Worm: http://haasegen564s17.weebly.com/homology.html
Grass: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252764597814467384/
Figure 1: timescavengers.blog/evolution/homology/
1. Weber, C. & Ponting, C. "Genes and Homology." (May 4th, 2004). Accessed 5/9/2020 from https://www.cell.com/current-biology/comments/S0960-9822(04)00287-8
2. “Using Research Organisms to Study Health and Disease.” National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Accessed 5/9/2020 from www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/using-research-organisms.aspx.
3. Mullan, A. & Marsh, A. “Common Model Organisms Used in Molecular Biology.” (February 2019). Oxford Instruments. Accessed 5/9/2020 from andor.oxinst.com/learning/view/article/common-model-organisms-used-in-molecular-biology.
4. Postel, Ruben, et al. “Kindlin-1 Mutant Zebrafish as an In Vivo Model System to Study Adhesion Mechanisms in the Epidermis.” (September 2013). Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison."