Allwardt, Brenda

I am studying several features of retinal development in the zebrafish. First, I am comparing the ultrastructural features of young "miniature" cones found in the peripheral adult retina with central embryonic cones. Second, I am characterizing morphological defects of three mutant zebrafish using light and electron microscopy. Two mutants, NOA and NOC, do not develop an optokinetic reflex necessary for tracking. In the third mutant, YNG, retinal cells fail to laminate. Third, I am using an amacrine-specific antibody to study amacrine cell development and a tyrosine hydroxylase antibody to study dopaminergic interplexiform cell development.