The+ Zebrafish+ Project

The Zebrafish ProjectThe Zebrafish Project

Katie HengenKatie Hengen

Lesley SullivanLesley Sullivan

ZebrafishZebrafish

Danio rerio, Danio rerio, freshwater freshwater fishfish

Originally from Ganges Originally from Ganges River in East India and River in East India and BurmaBurma

Found in slow streams Found in slow streams and rice paddiesand rice paddies

Excellent model for Excellent model for studying vertebrate studying vertebrate development and development and geneticsgenetics

Used in ResearchUsed in Research

Dr. George Streisinger Dr. George Streisinger (1970’s) determined (1970’s) determined usefulnessusefulnessSimilar embryonic Similar embryonic development to humansdevelopment to humansHuman genome known, Human genome known, easy to work with similar easy to work with similar genesgenesSome mutants known to Some mutants known to develop and duplicate develop and duplicate certain diseases common certain diseases common to humansto humans

Ideal ModelsIdeal Models

Vertebrates Vertebrates – Similar biological traits to Similar biological traits to

humanshumansGenesGenes

Developmental processesDevelopmental processes

AnatomyAnatomy

PhysiologyPhysiology

BehaviorsBehaviors

– Better genetic models than Better genetic models than commonly used commonly used invertebrates (fruit flies, invertebrates (fruit flies, worms)worms)

Ideal ModelsIdeal Models

Certain features make Certain features make easy to maintain, easy to maintain, manipulate, and observemanipulate, and observe– Do well in many Do well in many

environmentsenvironments– Small size Small size – Ability to be kept in large Ability to be kept in large

numbersnumbers– Easy breedingEasy breeding

Eggs externally fertilizedEggs externally fertilizedProduced regularly in Produced regularly in large numberslarge numbersNon-adhesiveNon-adhesive

– Easy to trace development Easy to trace development of individual cellsof individual cells

Ideal ModelsIdeal ModelsLarge quantities of eggsLarge quantities of eggsDevelop outside mother’s Develop outside mother’s bodybody– Easily accessible, Easily accessible,

contrasting micecontrasting mice

Transparent embryosTransparent embryos– Observe very first cell Observe very first cell

divisiondivision– Watch development of Watch development of

internal organsinternal organs– Monitor behavior of single Monitor behavior of single

cellscells

Embryos develop quicklyEmbryos develop quickly– From single cell to fish-like From single cell to fish-like

in 24 hoursin 24 hours

Zebrafish eggs 2 hours after fertilization.

Ideal ModelsIdeal Models

Can physically Can physically manipulate embryosmanipulate embryos– Transplant cells/groups of Transplant cells/groups of

cells into host embryocells into host embryo– Fertilization manipulated so Fertilization manipulated so

embryo contains only embryo contains only mother’s genesmother’s genes

Large community of Large community of researchers work with researchers work with zebrafishzebrafish

Zebrafish in High Schools Zebrafish in High Schools

InexpensiveInexpensiveTolerant of reasonable Tolerant of reasonable amount of stressamount of stressProduce large amounts of Produce large amounts of eggs for observationeggs for observationClear embryo visual with Clear embryo visual with standard high school standard high school microscopesmicroscopesFish embryo development Fish embryo development similar to other speciessimilar to other speciesZebrafish are Zebrafish are entertaining; students entertaining; students enjoy working with themenjoy working with them

Research Using ZebrafishResearch Using Zebrafish

EmbryologyEmbryology

Collecting and analyzing mutations, Collecting and analyzing mutations, comparing to other vertebratescomparing to other vertebrates

Genetic techniques and staining reagents Genetic techniques and staining reagents developed developed

Zebrafish genomeZebrafish genome

Transgenic fishTransgenic fish

Reaching OutReaching Out

Plans unfoldingPlans unfolding

Biology students at St. Joe are VERY Biology students at St. Joe are VERY LUCKY!LUCKY!

Clay High SchoolClay High School

QuarkNet QuarkNet

NDercNDerc