Atoh1 is required for the formation of lateral line electroreceptors and hair cells, whereas Foxg1 represses an electrosensory fate

Atoh1 is required for the formation of lateral line electroreceptors and hair cells, whereas Foxg1 represses an electrosensory fate

In electroreceptive jawed fishes and amphibians, individual lateral line placodes form lines of neuromasts on the head containing mechanosensory hair cells, flanked by fields of ampullary organs containing electroreceptors - modified hair cells that respond to weak electric fields. Extensively shared gene expression between neuromasts and ampullary organs suggests that conserved molecular mechanisms are involved in their development, but a few t…