Zebra (Fish) Are The New Rats
The zebra fish are replacing mice in some research labs. Biologists at the University of Oregon discovered how useful the tiny zebra fish can be for research. Their genes and embryos mimic human physiology in convenient ways for breakthrough research. They lay transparent eggs that allow scientists to quickly and inexpensively track embryonic development from a single-cell embryo to birth with a microscope.
Some examples of what might be learned is how gene manipulation in fish hearts can help researchers learn how to fix malformed organs in human newborns and future gene therapies for various kinds of cancers or issues related to autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
And the potential will grow. The Zebrafish International Resource Center estimates that thousands of boutique Zebrafish variants will populate the wet labs for bioscientific research.
Photo by Andy’s World.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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