BB Ch19 Zebrafish Flashcards
What is the genus and species of the zebrafish?
Danio rerio
How is this species used in biomedical research?
model of vertebrate embryonic development, gene function analysis, and mutagenesis.
T/F Zebrafish are sexually dimorphic.
T; Females are slightly larger, more silvery , and slightly rounded. Males are more streamlined and more brightly colored than females.
How is the female zebrafish induced to spawn?
After a period of darkness, the initial appearance of light, and persistent rubbing of the female by the male induces her to spawn.
In the laboratory, how do you prevent the adults from consuming the spawned eggs prior to collection?
Egg collection devices or rows of glass beads or marbles placed at the bottom of the tank
Name three attributes of the zebrafish that contribute to its popularity as a research model.
Small size, low maintenance, large litter size, easily manipulated embryos (develop outside of the mother), easily observed embryos (transparent ova), rapid development of embryos
What is the standard temperature for zebrafish maintenance?
28.5°C (83.3°F)
T/F The initial stages of embryo development involve a series of cleavages that occurs over several hours to days.
F: The initial series of cleavages takes place over a period of a few hours. The entire process from fertilization to hatching takes 3-4 days.
What does MBT stand for in regards to development of the zebrafish embryo and what is it’s significance?
MBT= midblastula transition & occurs 3 hrs post-fertilization; MBT represents the activation of zygotic transcription - all processes up to MBT are regulated by maternal factors; important because DNA constructs injected prior to MBT are NOT expressed until after MBT, RNA constructs ARE active prior to MBT
Define gastrulation and when does it occur?
Gastrulation, the process whereby the three germ layers take up their final positions in the embryo, begins about 5.5 hpf and is complete at 10 hpf.
Define “epiboly” and when does it occur?.
epiboly = When the embryonic cells begin to spread down over the yolk after sitting in a ball of cells on top of the yolk. This occurs about 4.5 hpf.
At what point does the embryo become responsive to touch?
24 hpf; This signals the presence of neuromuscular connections.
When do embryos hatch from their chorions? When do they begin to feed?
Hatch on day 3-4 Begin to feed on day 4-5
T/F The zebrafish is currently the only model organism for which large-scale genetic screens can be performed rapidly.
False: these studies can be done using C. elegans or Drosophila, but zebrafish ARE the only VERTEBRATE species in which these studies can be conducted
Describe the basic two-generation mutagenic screening process commonly employed using zebrafish.
Males are mutagenized and outcrossed to wild-type females. The offspring are inbred, and the F3 generation is scored for mutations.
ENU primarily generates ___________ mutations while radiation leads to ___________________. What is a drawback to these methods?
ENU primarily generates POINT mutations while radiation leads to LARGER DEFECTS (inversions, deletions). Drawback: rapid methods of mutagenesis, but veery labor intensive to ID the mutated genes
In addition to chemical mutagenesis and radiation, what is another means of inducing mutations in zebrafish embryos? What is an advantage of this method?
Viral infection to integrate a piece of DNA a known sequence into the genome. Advantage is that PCR can be used to rapidly ID the mutated gene(s)
What advantage does the zebrafish have over Xenopus and the mouse in regards to embryological studies?
Allows the unique combination of embryological and genetic tools. Xenopus genetics is not as well characterized or manipulable as the Zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos can be observed through development while mouse embryos develop in the uterus and cannot be observed as closely.
Define the terms “fate” and “committed” in the context of embryologic development.
FATE = the final differentiation state of particular cells. Cells are said to be COMMITTED if, following transplantation or explantation, the cells differentiate along the same pathway as dictated by the fate map. In other words, committment relates to the influence of environmental conditions on the fate of cells.
How is analysis of gene function performed in zebrafish?
By transient or stable gene expression accomplished by pressure-driven microinjection of DNA or RNA into immobilized embryos viewed under a stereomicroscope
Injected DNA constructs are not expressed until ________________, while injected RNA is translated __________________________.
Injected DNA constructs are not expressed until MIDBLASTULA TRANSITION (MBT), while injected RNA is translated IMMEDIATELY UPON INJECTION.
________________ions function as a “universal second messenger” carrying information across cells, tissues, organs, and organisms.
Calcium
What is aequorin and what is it used for?
A calcium-sensitive bioluminescent protein that emits light when it comes into contact with calcium ions and is used to study the role played by calcium signaling in biological systems.
Why is the monitoring of calcium signaling in the zebrafish embryo important to toxicologic studies?
One of the first responses of a cell to toxicant-induced injury is a loss of its ability to regulate intracellular calcium levels.








