Zebrafish Unit

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are small tropical fish which have become an incredibly useful model organism in scientific research. They share 70% of their genes with humans, making them ideal for research into genetic disease. Just one pair of fish can produce over a hundred embryos – these are transparent and develop externally, allowing developmental processes to be visualised easily under a microscope.

Zebrafish have been used to examine a wide range of human diseases, including heart disease, eye disorders, tuberculosis, and much more. Their use as an animal model has been growing in popularity over the past 40 years, and they are now the second most used animal in research.

Our team of dedicated technicians look after the daily maintenance of all fish in the Unit. This includes:

• Feeding and cleaning
• Larval rearing
• Health monitoring
• Embryo imports
• Maintenance of live food cultures

We also offer a range of additional services for our researchers, including:

• Provision of DNA samples for genotyping
• Wild-type embryo production
• Breeding

As a medical school, research at St George’s is focused on human health with an overarching goal to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Our research groups are using zebrafish to identify and understand the genetic causes of human disease. Using gene editing technologies, they can create zebrafish strains that provide a model for conditions affecting different parts of the body, such as the heart and the eyes. By understanding the genetic pathways behind disease, scientists can find ways to develop treatments that will improve the lives of people with these conditions.

If you would like to learn more about our Unit and services, please feel free to contact us at brfinfo@sgul.ac.uk