Danio rerio, commonly known as zebrafish, is an incredibly popular model organism in life science and pharmaceutical research due to their fast life cycle, high reproduction rates and transparent embryos that develop outside the mother. Additionally, zebrafish and humans share about 70% of their genes, including about 84% of genes associated with human diseases, and researchers have access to a wealth of published genomic information to reference for this species.
Many zebrafish studies begin with the spawning of a new generation of embryos that can then be manipulated through microinjection, or exposure to drugs and other chemicals, and imaged as they develop. Spawning starts with the pairing of a male and female zebrafish, which can be distinguished by their body shape and coloration: males are more slender, may have darker stripes and have a yellowish tinge to their anal fin, while females with eggs will have larger bellies and a duller silvery or blueish color. Once you can identify and pair male and female individuals, you’re off to a good start; here are some additional tips to keep in mind while conducting your zebrafish embryo studies.
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