Lundegaard Group - Cardiac Functional Genomics

Understanding the formation, function, and dysfunction of the atrium, and how this can lead to cardiac disease, is very important. The atria are the upper chambers of the heart and play a critical role in regulating blood flow, and abnormalities in their structure and function can lead to a range of cardiovascular disorders.

The cardiomyocyte is the main cell type found in the heart and is responsible for generating the force needed to pump blood throughout the body. The contractile machinery of the cardiomyocyte is composed of various proteins, including titin, myosin, actin, and troponin, that work together to generate force.

Mutations in genes encoding these proteins can lead to abnormalities in the structure and function of the heart, including arrhythmias and structural defects. Understanding how these mutations affect the development and function of the heart at the molecular and cellular levels is crucial for developing new treatments and therapies for cardiac disease.

The zebrafish is an excellent model organism for studying the development and function of the heart, as its cardiovascular system shares many similarities with that of humans. It is a popular model for studying cardiovascular disease due to its small size, rapid development, transparency, and ease of genetic manipulation.

Overall, studying zebrafish can provide valuable insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac disease, ultimately helping to inform the development of new therapies and treatments.