Zebra fish and cancer research.

[LRT]

Didn't even realize this was a thing until a recent camping trip with one of my wifes son last weekend..
Its pretty cool he had a chance to work on these projects and blew my mind when he told me they are actually manipulating dna and giving these fish cancers to better help the treatment of cancer in humans. Brain cancer, melanoma they are actually removing the pigment of these fish skin. You name it.
Mind blown!

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[Peace River]

I agree! I have bred many species of fish and when I was researching zebra danios I came across a lot of standard protocols for breeding these fish in a lab - fascinating stuff! When you consider this in light of the gene-related work (including PCR, sequencing, etc.) that was presented at MACNA there is some amazing things happening in the science world that have the potential for major impact in human health and fish understanding.

 

[ewanho]

Used in pre-clinical trial once a lead candidate drug has been identified; the fish can be genetically mosified and then the advantage is that they breed genetically consistent (like mice that were used before); they are cheap, breed quickly, and simple to spike drugs into their food or water; Just one of about 10 species/animals that are used in pre-clinical trials to evaluate a new potential drug

 

[KrisReef]

Animal research, could be a can of worms but for the record I support these efforts. Animal will also benefit in the long term. Thanks for posting this thread & info.

 

[LRT]

Wasn't really sure how to feel about it at first honestly. Then after seeing some pictures of the operation they are running. And hearing the benefits they are reaping in cancer research. And coming from second year biology grad and seeing the enthusiasm.. I couldn't help but feel good about it.
I'll see if I can get some pictures but the particular lab he was working in was clean and super well organized. I didn't see them all but he did show me racks of tanks. Over 1700 different cancer research projects being performed. Blew my mind when he told me they could remove the fish skin pigments to do the melanoma research. And that they where doing something with brain cancer that is actually effective in treating human brain cancer in the fish.
Totally cool man. I had no idea something like this exhisted.

 

[KrisReef]

Wasn't really sure how to feel about it at first honestly. Then after seeing some pictures of the operation they are running. And hearing the benefits they are reaping in cancer research. And coming from second year biology grad and seeing the enthusiasm.. I couldn't help but feel good about it.
I'll see if I can get some pictures but the particular lab he was working in was clean and super well organized. I didn't see them all but he did show me racks of tanks. Over 1700 different cancer research projects being performed. Blew my mind when he told me they could remove the fish skin pigments to do the melanoma research. And that they where doing something with brain cancer that is actually effective in treating human brain cancer in the fish.
Totally cool man. I had no idea something like this exhisted.

The thread just gets better an better. Young folks and research are a good thing, in general. Cancer and science provide some hope for improved existence for the living in the future, god help us!

 

[LRT]

The thread just gets better an better. Young folks and research are a good thing, in general. Cancer and science provide some hope for improved existence for the living in the future, god help us!

For sure i thought it was pretty awesome.
He just moved closer to home do invasive species research on mussels in one of our local lakes.