The Importance of Zebrafish in Biomedical Research

Bárbara Tavares; Susana Santos Lopes

doi:10.20344/amp.4628

The Importance of Zebrafish in Biomedical Research

Authors

Bárbara Tavares Cilia Regulation and Disease Lab. Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.
Susana Santos Lopes Cilia Regulation and Disease Lab. Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.4628

Abstract

Introduction: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal model organism for the study of vertebrate development. This is due to the large clutches that each couple produces, with up to 200 embryos every 7 days, and to the fact that the embryos and larvae are small, transparent and undergo rapid external development.
Material and Methods: Using scientific literature research tools available online and the keywords Zebrafish, biomedical research, human disease, and drug screening, we reviewed original studies and reviews indexed in PubMed.
Results: In this review we summarized work conducted with this model for the advancement of our knowledge related to several human diseases. We also focused on the biomedical research being performed in Portugal with the zebrafish model.
Discussion: Powerful live imaging and genetic tools are currently available for zebrafish making it a valuable model in biomedical
research. The combination of these properties with the optimization of automated systems for drug screening has transformed the zebrafish into a “top model” in biomedical research, drug discovery and toxicity testing. Furthermore, with the optimization of xenografts technology it will be possible to use zebrafish to aide in the choice of the best therapy for each patient.
Conclusion: Zebrafish is an excellent model organism in biomedical research, drug development and in clinical therapy.

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Author Biographies

Bárbara Tavares, Cilia Regulation and Disease Lab. Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.

Susana Santos Lopes, Cilia Regulation and Disease Lab. Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa. Portugal.

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Published

2013-10-31

How to Cite

Tavares B, Santos Lopes S. The Importance of Zebrafish in Biomedical Research. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2013 Oct. 31 [cited 2024 Apr. 16];26(5):583-92. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/4628

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Issue

Vol. 26 No. 5 (2013): September-October

Section

Review Articles

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