Gareth Fraser

Associate Professor University of Florida

  • Gainesville FL

Gareth Fraser's research focuses on the diversity of fishes and how they evolve and develop their unique adaptations.

Contact

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Biography

Gareth Fraser's research is focused on the evolution and development of diversity in a range of aquatic vertebrates, such as sharks, chimaeras and pufferfish. He uses these unconventional models to answer questions in evolution, development and regenerative biology. His primary research focus is evolution and development of teeth, specifically in sharks. His interdisciplinary research spans biodiversity, ecology and evolution, paleontology, stem cell and regenerative biology, dental biology and evolutionary developmental biology. He teaches courses on evolution, development, genetics, marine ecology and biodiversity.

Areas of Expertise

Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
Ecology and Evolution
Biominetics
Evolution
Sharks
Marine Biology
Fish Diversity
Developmental Biology
Biodiversity
Paleontology
Dental Biology

Media Appearances

It's been 50 years since the blockbuster movie 'Jaws,' but there's more to be revealed about shark biology

PBS News  online

2025-06-21

In addition to scaring many moviegoers that “it’s not safe to go in the water,” “Jaws” has over the years inspired generations of researchers, including Gareth Fraser. The scientific curiosity sparked by this horror fish flick has helped reveal so much more about what lies beneath the waves than was known 50 years ago.

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Watch the hammerhead shark gets its hammer

Science  online

2023-09-28

With their broad, flattened snout tipped at each end with giant google eyes, hammerhead sharks are both charismatic and easy to spot. Now, for the first time, scientists have captured step-by-step how this “hammer” forms in developing embryos.

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UF researchers study ghost shark and its teeth regeneration abilities

WUFT News  online

2023-08-03

University of Florida researchers explored the Pacific Northwest's deep waters this summer to learn about the mystifying ghost shark. The researchers discovered a way to locate ghost shark eggs using remotely-operated vehicles. From there, the researchers can study the shark's teeth to understand teeth regeneration better.

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Social

Articles

Teeth Outside the Jaw: Evolution and Development of the Toothed Head Clasper in Chimaeras

bioRxiv

Cohen, et al.

2025-04-05

We investigate the development of the tenaculum and its teeth throughout the ontogeny of the Spotted Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei, to assess homology and convergence between this novel craniofacial feature and oral jaws.

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Evolution, development, and regeneration of tooth-like epithelial appendages in sharks

ScienceDirect

Nicklin, et al.

2024-12-01

Our observations have begun to decipher the developmental and genetic shifts that separate these seemingly similar dental units, including elements of the regenerative nature in both oral teeth and the emerging skin denticles from the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) and other chondrichthyan models. Ultimately, we ask what defines a tooth at both the molecular and morphological level.

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Embryonic development in the bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo), a viviparous hammerhead shark

Developmental Dynamics

Byrum, et al.

2023-09-28

We present the first comprehensive embryonic staging series for the Bonnethead, a viviparous hammerhead shark. Documenting the development of hard-to-access vertebrates, like this viviparous shark species, offers important information about how new and diverse morphologies arise that otherwise may remain poorly studied.

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