Pigment cell development in teleosts

Fish generate their strikingly diverse body colouration with multiple pigment cell-types expressing different colours, in many species organized in complex and often beautiful patterns. Multiple pigment cell-types are derived from a transient embryonic tissue, the neural crest. Increasing genetic evidence suggests how the stem cell gives rise to the repertoire of pigment cell-types during development. Many genes encoding transcription factors and signaling molecules have been identified as key players regulating cell fate, proliferation and differentiation.

This chapter focuses on the genetic control of pigment cell development to generate melanophores, iridophores and xanthophores in zebrafish and also leucophores in medaka.