Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are small freshwater fish native to South Asia and widely used as a model organism in scientific research. They are particularly favored in the fields of developmental biology, genetics, and medical research due to several advantageous traits. Zebrafish embryos are transparent, which allows researchers to easily observe their development under a microscope. They also develop rapidly, with major organs beginning to form within 24 hours of fertilization and becoming fully functional within five to six days. Zebrafish share a significant amount of genetic similarity with humans, making them an excellent model for studying human diseases and biological processes. Their genetic structure is well-mapped, and they are amenable to genetic modifications, facilitating studies in gene function and genetic diseases. Additionally, zebrafish are prolific breeders and easy to maintain in laboratory settings, further enhancing their utility for large-scale genetic and pharmacological studies.
How can we reliably and objectively characterize the speed and various stages of embryonic development? With the help of artificial intelligence! Researchers at the University…
Researchers find that heart cells in developing zebrafish begin to beat abruptly and all at once. Transforming from just a few cells into a fully…
Impact of substances on zebrafish embryos shows how the prenatal development of human facial features might also be affected. Some substances in medicines, household items,…
Cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks are among the major causes of death globally, a result of the human heart’s limited self-healing power. Unlike humans, zebrafish…
Germ-free larvae have altered neural connections due to a reduction in pruning by immune cells. Microorganisms are essential for normal social development in zebrafish via…
According to a recent study, fish copy emotions just like humans. And the responsible molecule is oxytocin. When an individual flashes a smile at us,…
Texas A&M biologist Alex Keene and his team used variant-to-gene mapping, a predictive genomics approach, to demonstrate that the gene Pig-Q plays a role in…
A multiregional hindbrain circuit enables animals to regain their pathing after deviating from it. A zebrafish heads toward its target, but strong currents push it…
To learn to socialize, zebrafish need to trust their gut. Gut microbes encourage specialized cells to prune back extra connections in brain circuits that control…
Researchers have found that oxytocin, sometimes known as the “love hormone,” may one day help heal damaged hearts after a heart attack. The neurohormone oxytocin is…
Zebrafish experiments demonstrate how vulnerable freshwater and marine species may be impacted by climate change. When the climate changes, which organisms survive and which die?…
A study demonstrates how transcription factors support cell regeneration. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified a particular protein network that is necessary…
Zebrafish may repair heart tissue after injury, according to research conducted by the MDC team under the direction of Jan Philipp Junker and Daniela Panáková….
Recently discovered ‘single-pixel vision’ in fish could help researchers understand how humans are able to spot tiny details in their environment — like stars in…
Whether a worm, a human, or a blue whale, all multicellular life begins as a single-celled egg. From this solitary cell emerges the galaxy of…
A research team headed by scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has published a new model in ‘Nature Communications’…
By studying miR-107 in zebrafish, Yale researchers have discovered that miR-107 plays a key role in early brain development, and perhaps in the development of…
A new study from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research reveals how the eye of a zebrafish larva can already distinguish between prey and…