GeneticandGenomicAdvancesinDevelopmental Models:ApplicationsforNutritionResearch

Abstract

Thereisincreasingappreciationthatdietarycomponentsinfluenceandinteractwithgenesimportanttometabolism.Howsuchinfluencesimpact developmentalregulationandprogrammingorrisksofchronicdiseasesremainsunclear.Nutritionisrecognizedtoaffectdevelopmentandchronic diseases, but our understanding about how genes essential to nutrient metabolism regulate development and impact risks of these diseases remains unclear. Historically, mammalian models, especially rodents such as rats and mice, have been the primary models used for nutrition and developmentalnutritionscience,althoughtheircomplexityandrelativelyslowrateofdevelopmentoftencompromiserapidprogressinresolving fundamental,genetic-relatedquestions.Accordingly,theobjectiveofthisreviewistohighlighttheopportunitiesfordevelopmentalmodelsinthe contextofuncoveringthefunctionofgeneproductsthatarerelevanttohumannutritionandprovidethescientificbasesfortheseopportunities. We present recent studies in zebrafish related to obesity as applications of developmental models in nutritional science. Although the control of external factors and dependent variables, such as nutrition, can be a challenge, suggestions for standardizations related to diet are made to improve consistency in findings between laboratories. The review also highlights the need for standardized diets across different developmental models, which could improve consistency in findings across laboratories. Alternative and developmental animal models have advantages and largelyuntappedpotentialfortheadvancementofnutrigenomicsandnutritionallyrelevantresearchareas