When we think of biomedical research animals, mice and rats generally come to mind. But thereās a new star in the lab that is zebrafish (Danio rerio).
The zebrafish is perhaps one of the most frequently used model organisms for genetic and developmental studies.
Why Zebrafish?
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Transparent embryos: Zebrafish embryos are clear and develop outside the uterus, giving scientists a front-row seat to observe every step of developmentāfrom a single cell to a fully formed organism.
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Rapid growth: Within just five days, zebrafish embryos develop into free-swimming larvae, drastically shortening experimental timelines.
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Genetic similarity to humans: Surprisingly, zebrafish share about 70% of their genes with humans, making them highly relevant for studying genetic disorders.
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High fertility: A single pair of zebrafish can produce hundreds of offspring weekly, providing researchers with abundant material for experiments:
Zebrafish and Human Disease Models
Researchers have successfully modeled conditions such as:
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Neurological disorders: Parkinsonās, Huntingtonās, and Alzheimerās diseases.
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Muscular and genetic conditions: Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Cancers: Human melanoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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Kidney disorders: Polycystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis, and acute kidney injury.
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Cardiac and metabolic diseases: Myocardial infarction and various metabolic disorders.
This versatility allows scientists to test drug responses, understand disease progression, and explore potential therapeutic strategies before moving to clinical trials
The zebrafish may be small, but its contributions to science are enormous. From uncovering how organs develop to modelling devastating human diseases, this striped swimmer is proving to be an unsung hero of modern medicine.
MBH/PS