Zebrafish myelopoiesis and blood cell development

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) animal model offers a unique opportunity to dis cover novel genes required for the control of normal vertebrate myeloid cel l development. It is well suited for both developmental and genetic analyse s: eg, genome-wide chemical mutagenesis screens have fed to the identificat ion of specific new genes affecting vertebrate erythropoiesis. Mutants defe ctive in one or more hematopoietic functions will be useful as models of hu man disease and will assist in the elucidation of lineage-specific developm ental programs. By using a combination of forward genetic mutagenesis scree ns and emerging strategies based on transgenic and antisense knockdown appr oaches, it should be possible to dissect the genetic programs that lead to myeloproliferative/myelodysplastic syndromes and to acute myeloid leukemia. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.