Zebrafish

About Zebrafish: 

• It is a small (2-3 cm long) freshwater fish found in tropical and subtropical regions.
• The vertebrate takes its name from the horizontal blue stripes running the length of its body. 
• Habitat: It is native to South Asia's Indo-Gangetic plains, where they are mostly found in the paddy fields and even in stagnant water and streams.
• Features
  • It attracts developmental biologists due to its adequate regeneration capacity of almost all its organs, including the brain, heart, eye, and spinal cord.
  • It possesses several advantages over rodent models in the study of vertebrate development and disease.
  • These include hundreds of embryos in a single clutch and optical clarity of the developing embryo (have transparent larvae and embryos), which allows live imaging at the organism level.
  • They are easily bred in large numbers with a relatively low maintenance cost.
  • Approximately 70 percent of zebrafish genes are also present in a similar form in humans.
  • Over 80 percent of genes that are known to trigger disease in humans are also present in this fish. 
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concerned.

Q1: What is IUCN?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is a global organization composed of governments, NGOs, scientists, and experts dedicated to conserving nature and promoting sustainability. Its primary role involves assessing the conservation status of species, providing data and analysis on the state of biodiversity worldwide, and offering guidance and frameworks for conservation efforts.

News: Chinese astronauts successfully rear four zebrafish in space