Hidden Earth 2024

Am I a Cavefish? Exploring the Evolutionary Adaptations and Medical Insights from Blind Cavefish

60 minute Lecture|Rachael Pajak

Abstract

It is not often you find creatures lurking in the underground, however, when one has made the hidden realm their home, one must adapt to this hostile environment. The phenomena of the blind cavefish of Mexico demonstrate there is more than what meets the (lack of) eye. These fascinating cavefish are an excellent model for evolutionary development but also could hold the secrets for many disease processes that could potentially aid modern medicine. This lecture aims to explore the diverse adaptions these fish have acquired through time. By exploring their world, we gain a deeper understanding of our own and perhaps see a reflection of ourselves in these extraordinary creatures.