The functional testing of candidate genes is essential for us to be able to wade through the dozens or hundreds of candidates that have been put forward from the Lovett-Warchol RNA-seq experiments. Raible has successfully developed a zebrafish CRISPR screen approach that allows for the rapid testing of candidate genes for their role in hair cell development and regeneration. Raible will continue in his characterization of genes that affect hair cell regeneration. In addition, the project includes a second aim that proposes to test candidate enhancers in the zebrafish.