We describe approaches for the manipulation of genes in the evolutionary model system Astyanax mexicanus. Three different techniques are described: Tol2-mediated transgenesis, targeted manipulation of the genome using CRISPR/Cas9, and knockdown of expression using morpholinos. These tools should facilitate the direct investigation of genes underlying the variation between surface- and cave-dwelling forms.
Stahl, B. A., Jaggard, J. B., Chin, J. S., Kowalko, J. E., Keene, A. C., Duboué, E. R. Manipulation of Gene Function in Mexican Cavefish. J. Vis. Exp. (146), e59093, doi:10.3791/59093 (2019).