New Parichy Lab Studies Reveal Distinct Pigment

New research from the Parichy lab, published in PNAS and Current Biology, explores how fish build their color patterns and what those colors mean for social behavior. Delai Huang, David Parichy, and colleagues show that white pigment cells on zebrafish fins aren’t all the same — cells on different fins arise through entirely different developmental routes, and a distantly related minnow achieves a similar white appearance through yet another mechanism, revealing convergent evolution operating both within and between species. In the companion study, the team finds that graded BMP signals pattern red versus yellow cells along fins, and that mutant fish with shifted color ratios are preferred as shoalmates by females — connecting a molecular concentration gradient directly to social behavior. The work exemplifies the integrative strengths of the group and UVA-Biology more generally, bridging genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, evolutionary comparison, and behavior to understand how animal diversity is built and put to use.