Speaking of Science | Sculpture Lessons: How the Zebrafish Forms Its Blood Vessels

With Dr. Jesús Torres-Vázquez, New York University

From the moment we are conceived, we undergo a fascinating transformation, changing from a single cell into a complex organism with millions of cells and multiple organs. Have you ever wondered what mechanisms ensure that our organs form the way they do to ensure that they function in harmony with each other? Many developmental biologists and geneticists are answering this question by studying the zebrafish, a small tropical fish native of India.

In this talk, I will explain why and how we can learn so much about human biology and development from this tiny pet fish. I will illustrate some of the findings that various labs, including my own, have made in this regard, with emphasis on some of the most significant lessons that we have learned about the early formation of the circulatory system in the embryo.