Classroom Culture of Brachydanio rerio Jim Egenrieder Arlington Public Schools H-B Woodlawn Program www.hbwbiology.net jim@hbwbiology.net 703-599-3643

Why this species? Species Characteristics Genetic background Culture tolerances Life Cycle Embryonic Development Classroom suitability

Genus Characteristics Communal Tolerant of a range of water quality Small Easy to breed Pet quality

Characteristics of B. rerio Family: Cyprinidae (Carps & minnows) Origin: India, Peninsula India, Ganges Basin - Up to Nepal Size: 5cm

Characteristics of B. rerio Slow moving streams and still waters such as rice paddies and ponds. Found in groups in open areas at the surface.

Characteristics of B. rerio Abiotic preferences: pH: 6.0-8.0 dH: 5.0-19.0 temperature:18-24°C

Genetic Background Gametes can be stripped easily and non-invasively for in vitro fertilization where haploid, triploid or homozygous diploid fish can be produced. Can be used directly in studies of gene interactions with environmental agents

Genetic Background Established model for vertebrate developmental genetics and the production of transgenic fishes. Can be stocked in high densities

Gentic Information Best mapped genome of any aquatic vertebrate and its complete genome will be completed mid-2002 by the Sanger Institute in the UK.

Embryonic Development Emerging species of choice for genetic studies Visible embryos Fully mapped genome nervous system takes place very early

Life Cycle Reaches sexual maturity in as little as 60 days Females can lay several hundred eggs per day. understanding normal and abnormal human development. Similarity to mammalian embryogenesis

Other Benefits Potential to produce altered specimens with specific traits Provides raw system for high through-put toxicological assays

Classroom Applications Physical and behavioral suiability Adapt to and breed in a wide variety of classroom habitats food buckets individual aquaria larger systems commercial systems

Science Projects Subject to International Standards for vertebrate organisms Classroom projects Classroom pets afterward

Pricing and Availabiltiy Pet supply disadvantages Wholesale Research strains Home-bred

Sources NIH Pet wholesalers Pet stores

More Information bionet.organisms.zebrafish: Zebrafish Internet Newsgroup Archives of All Zebrafish News Items Since 1995 Archive of Zebrafish Methods posted on bionet / e-mailDescribe where product can be purchased, or where to direct orders.

More Information Date: Mon, 20 Feb 1995 12:13:07 PDT From: PATRICIA EDWARDS To: Zebrafish Publications Coordinator Subject: Use of zebrafish in high school labs There seems to be an increasing amount of interest in using the zebrafish as a model in the study of vertebrate development and genetics in high school and even elementary school classes and labs. I have begun to keep a list of those who are active or interested in planning such a curriculum so that when I get inquiries I can forward them on those who are also doing that type of work. It can also be used by the participants as a means to network with other teachers. If you would like to be included on the list and have not already contacted me about it within the past week, please let me know. Be sure to include your full mailing address, phone & FAX numbers, and e-mail address. Current K-12 zebrafish resource list. Thanks for your help. Pat Edwards, ZF Publications Coordinator Institute of Neuroscience 1254 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1254 (541) 346-5222 FAX (541) 346-4548 edwards@uoneuro.uoregon.edu

More Information THE ZEBRAFISH SCIENCE MONITOR http://zfin.org/zf_info/monitor/mon.html

More Information THE ZEBRAFISH BOOK - http://zfin.org/zf_info/zfbook/zfbk.html A guide for the laboratory use of zebrafish Danio* (Brachydanio) rerio