Menu Close

When was the zebrafish discovered?

When was the zebrafish discovered?

Ever since George Streisinger pioneered his research using zebrafish (Danio rerio), at the University of Oregon in 1972, the zebrafish not only has become a unique animal model in basic research, due to its fine embryonic and (molecular) genetics technique/tool developed globally, but it is also a favorite model of …

When was the GloFish genetically engineered?

2003
In the spring of 2003, Taiwan became the first to authorize sales of a genetically modified organism as a pet. One hundred thousand fish were reportedly sold in less than a month at US$18.60 each.

How much DNA do we share with zebrafish?

Humans and zebrafish share 70 percent of the same genes and 84 percent of human genes known to be associated with human disease have a counterpart in zebrafish. Major organs and tissues are also common. Zebrafish genome has also been fully sequenced to a very high quality.

Are GloFish illegal in the UK?

They are also bred in green and orange but are illegal in Ireland and the EU because if accidentally released into the wild they could have a detrimental effect on native fish species. EPA inspectors discovered the fish after being tipped off that glofish had been found in the UK and could be in Ireland.

Are GloFish legal in Australia?

Description: Glowing or fluorescent fish such as GloFish® are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and it is illegal to import them into Australia for personal or commercial use without an authorisation from the Regulator.

Are zebrafish poisonous?

The distinctive saltwater zebra fishes (Pterois), used in marine aquariums, have extremely large pectoral fins, numerous extremely poisonous spines, and colourful vertical stripes.

Do zebra fish go blind?

In a zebrafish when that cell is damaged, it will activate and then regenerate. “So, the fish will go from blind to about two-and-a-half weeks later, total regain of eyesight,” Patton said.

How similar is zebrafish to human?

Zebrafish have a similar genetic structure to humans. They share 70 per cent of genes with us. 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart. As a vertebrate, the zebrafish has the same major organs and tissues as humans.

Can zebrafish cure blindness?

“You can blind or seriously damage a zebrafish, and they will regrow their eye in a matter of weeks,” says James Patton, a biologist at Vanderbilt University. The fish can do this because of those Müller glia cells in the retina. Behaving like stem cells, they can regrow the retina and replace all the damaged neurons.

How long does it take for a zebrafish embryo to develop?

Fertilized eggs almost immediately become transparent, a characteristic that makes D. rerio a convenient research model species. The zebrafish embryo develops rapidly, with precursors to all major organs appearing within 36 hours of fertilization.

How is the zebrafish related to other Cyprinidae?

The zebrafish is a derived member of the genus Danio, of the family Cyprinidae. It has a sister-group relationship with Danio aesculapii. Zebrafish are also closely related to the genus Devario, as demonstrated by a phylogenetic tree of close species.

Are there any transgenic zebrafish that are fluorescent?

In late 2003, transgenic zebrafish that express green, red, and yellow fluorescent proteins became commercially available in the United States. The fluorescent strains are tradenamed GloFish; other cultivated varieties include “golden”, “sandy”, “longfin” and “leopard”.

What kind of mutations are found in zebrafish?

In 1999, the nacre mutation was identified in the zebrafish ortholog of the mammalian MITF transcription factor. Mutations in human MITF result in eye defects and loss of pigment, a type of Waardenburg Syndrome.