The mtp2 morphants also displayed increased intraembryonic iron staining, particularly in the somites, brain, and spinal cord, consistent with the erythroid transferrin receptor deficient phenotype (Figure 7O), which is characterized by normal iron transport from the yolk to the embryo, but ineffective transport to the erythrocyte.[43] Thus it seems likely that mtp2 knockdown produces anemia in zebrafish embryos by decreasing erythroid progenitor development. This evidence concerns the gene TFRC and anemia.