Here, we apply a similar zf model to investigate the role of slc20a1a in the zf urinary tract and urorectal development, and we combine this with human genomic, cell culture, and immunohistochemistry with regard to SLC20A1. Our results suggest SLC20A1 is involved in human and zf urinary tract and urorectal development, and implicate SLC20A1 as a disease-gene for bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). Here, SLC20A1 is linked to bladder exstrophy.