What are some possible future innovations in zebrafish research?

• A project already underway is the sequencing the zebrafish genome. • Design of genetic techniques for careful mis-expression studies (mis-expression is another important way of learning what a protein can do) • Future innovations cannot be predicted, but being able to engineer mutations in specific genes would be very useful. Many people would like to do this. Back to the top * What are the advantages and disadvantages of using zebrafish in labs? Advantages: • They can be kept at fairly high densities in a small tank • They lay large numbers of easily collectible eggs • The eggs are clear and easily observed and manipulated • They develop fast • Their generation time (egg to adult) is short • They are vertebrates • Expense. Fish are cheaper to maintain than mice, but more expensive than flies--another powerful model organism. Disadvantages: • They require water systems to maintain them • They are not mammals and are not as closely related to humans as a mouse is. • Reverse genetics ...  more