Abstract

The guppy has the major classes of chromatophores found in teleosts: xantho-erythrophores, iridophores and melanophores. These color cells render the adult body essentially opaque. A transparent guppy was developed, the See-thru guppy, combining alleles that genetically remove the major classes of guppy color cells: xantho-erythrophores, iridophores, melanophores and leucophores. The See-thru guppy may have interesting applications for scientists already using the guppy as a model organism. In our own research into the inheritance of color patterns in the guppy, the See-thru guppy may be useful for exploring the specificity of mutations to color cell types.

Authors and Affiliations