Zebrafish used in cancer trials
Taiwanese scientists are using colourful fish to study the effects of experimental drugs on cancerous tumours.
Scientists at Taikong Corp took a gene that makes jellyfish fluorescent and transplanted it into the livers of zebrafish, as their internal organs are structured in a similar way to those of humans.
Later, these were implanted with cancer cells for testing.
Scientists found the gene was able to highlight the cancerous tissue because of its special tint.
Zebrafish are named for their five uniform, pigmented, horizontal blue stripes on the side of the body, all of which extend to the end of the caudal fin.
Males are torpedo shaped and have gold stripes between the blue stripes while females have a larger, whitish belly and have silver stripes instead of gold.
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
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