"This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison."
Introduction
What is a model organism?
A model organism is a widely studied species that is representative of a process or function of interest (1). Good genetic model organisms are often inexpensive, easy to maintain, has a well studied and annotated genome, and also has a genome that is easily manipulated (1). Model organisms can be used and manipulated to understand underlying causes of human disease, and they may help develop effective treatment.
Results
Danio rerio (Zebrafish)The Zebrafish is a great model for studying neurodegenerative diseases because changes in neurons can be easily detected and viewed. Furthermore, zebrafish are inexpensive, generate many progeny, and have an easily manipulated genome. Also, dopamine deficient zebrafish behavioral defects are easy to assay. Erratic and irregular swimming behaviors are often observed in dopamine deficient zebrafish. Furthermore, their neurons are easily assayed with a fluorescent marker.
|
Discussion
Only vertebrates have been found to have the SNCA gene. Therefore, this limits the number of potential organisms to study Lewy body dementia. For this reason, the zebrafish was the clear choice. The zebrafish is a cheap, representative and an easy model for studying Lewy body dementia. Zebrafish have very straightforward and easily observed mutant phenotypes. Interestingly, zebrafish have no SNCA gene. However, this is not a problem, because they have a very closely related ortholog, SNCB. In previous studies, SNCB has been effectively used to study SNCA and dopamine (2). Mutations in the SNCA gene produce phenotypes similar to those found in humans with LBD.
References
1. What is a model organism?-Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved from http://www.eol.org/info/466
2. Milanese, C., Sager, JJ., Bai, Q., Farrell, TC., Cannon, JR,. Greenamyer, JT., Burton, EA. (2012). Hypokinesia and reduced dopamine levels in zebrafish lacking β- and γ1-synucleins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(5): 2971-2983. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.308312
Zebrafish database: https://zfin.org/
Header photo: Retrieved from http://www.washcoll.edu/live/news/8765-video-the-effects-of-prozac-on-zebrafish
2. Milanese, C., Sager, JJ., Bai, Q., Farrell, TC., Cannon, JR,. Greenamyer, JT., Burton, EA. (2012). Hypokinesia and reduced dopamine levels in zebrafish lacking β- and γ1-synucleins. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(5): 2971-2983. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.308312
Zebrafish database: https://zfin.org/
Header photo: Retrieved from http://www.washcoll.edu/live/news/8765-video-the-effects-of-prozac-on-zebrafish