This pathway, left unchecked, can lead to the development of uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.

The researchers made the discovery by injecting zebrafish embryos with a chemical that blocked the function of beta-arrestin-2. The injected embryos almost completely lacked the beta-arrestin-2 protein and exhibited characteristics previously linked to defects in the hedgehog signaling pathway, such as underdeveloped heads and abnormal muscle development. Humans and zebrafish share fundamental developmental pathways, the researchers say, with zebrafish embryos being good for research because they're transparent, allowing easier observations of early development.

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