KEY FACTS ABOUT ZEBRAFISH
(Danio rerio)
1.
Small tropical fish native to southeast Asia
5.
The larvae hatch two days after fertilization; five days later all the vital organs are developed; in two to three months the young fish are capable of breeding new offspring
9.
Genome contains 1,505,581,940 base pairs and 26,247 protein-coding genes
13.
They are amenable to both forward and reverse genetic approaches, with a research toolset regularly updated
2.
One couple produces hundreds of offspring per week
6.
As a vertebrate, it has the same major organs and tissues as humans
10.
It has a similar genetic structure to humans; around 70% of human genes have at least one similar gene in the zebrafish
14.
Once a gene has been identified as linked to a specific disease, zebrafish can be genetically modified to create an animal model of the disease, which scientists can use to test new treatments
3.
Eggs are fertilized and develop outside the body
7.
The use of zebrafish as a model organism began in the 1960s
11.
The second most used animal in medical research, replacing the use of rats in many cases
15.
They are highly regenerative, able to regrow amputated fins, as well as a lesioned brain, retina, spinal cord, heart, and other tissues
4.
Embryos are transparent and can be viewed and manipulated at all stages
8.
The complete genome sequence was published in 2013
12.
84% of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart
16.
If part of a zebrafish’s heart is removed it can grow back in a matter of weeks. Specific factors involved in this process will help us to develop ways of repairing the heart in humans with heart failure or who have suffered heart attacks