Zebrafish

Recent articles

Adam Kampff.

Remembering Adam Kampff, neuroscience educator and researcher

Kampff’s do-it-yourself approach inspired a generation of neuroscientists.

By Lauren Schneider
24 December 2025 | 6 min read
Research image of zebrafish forebrains.

Autism-related genes converge on microglia and dopamine in zebrafish

The findings add to the growing evidence that genes with disparate functions can play similar roles in brain development.

By Peter Hess
12 May 2023 | 4 min read
Research heatmap showing mice associating more with familiar mice than unfamiliar ones.

Loss of autism-linked gene dampens social interactions in animals

Mice and zebrafish missing the GIGYF1 gene show social traits reminiscent of autism, though the molecular underpinnings are unclear.

By Holly Barker
28 April 2023 | 4 min read

DNA unwinder tied to social behaviors in mice, zebrafish

Blocking the enzyme, called TOP2A, in embryos makes the animals less inclined to seek companionship later in life.

By Niko McCarty
16 December 2022 | 4 min read

Zebrafish social behavior swims into mainstream

New studies bolster the idea that zebrafish models can say something meaningful about social behavior in autism.

By Sarah DeWeerdt
17 November 2022 | 6 min read

Screening zebrafish autism models: A quick take at SfN with Ellen Hoffman

Zebrafish with mutations in 10 different autism-linked genes show a range of unique and shared phenotypes.

By Spectrum
16 November 2022 | 2 min watch

Decoding sensory brain networks: A quick take at SfN with Ethan Scott

Scott describes his work on sound processing differences in the brains of zebrafish that model fragile X syndrome.

By Spectrum
15 November 2022 | 2 min watch
Three scans of zebrafish brains.

Zebrafish point to new gene involved in brain overgrowth, autism

The gene, YTHDF2, has not previously been linked to autism.

By Katharine Gammon
1 November 2022 | 3 min read
Three views of zebrafish.

Novel gene linked to brain size in autistic people

The gene, YTHDF2, may be one of several that contribute to an autism subtype marked by an unusually big brain.

By Laura Dattaro
16 May 2022 | 2 min read
Scientist Ethan Scott takes aim with a bow and arrow in his backyard.

Beyond the bench: A conversation with Ethan Scott

Ethan Scott packs his lab with math, physics and computer science experts to decode sensory brain networks in zebrafish models of autism.

By Delia O’Hara
13 September 2021 | 9 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

DNA strand

Exon-skipping approach boosts levels of key Rett syndrome protein

Deleting a small region of the MECP2 gene partially restored function in neurons derived from people with Rett-associated variants.

By Giorgia Guglielmi
20 March 2026 | 5 min read
Collage with a portrait of Caitlin Vander Weele in the foreground.

Frameshift: How Caitlin Vander Weele made science communication her business

Her favorite part of research was talking about it. So she left academia and turned that passion into a successful company.

By Katie Moisse
19 March 2026 | 6 min read
Research image of senescing cells.

Signs of aging vary across brain cells

Senescence presents differently depending on the cell type, toxic trigger and neighboring cells, two new studies find.

By Claudia López Lloreda
18 March 2026 | 4 min read