Zebrafish as a model for systems biology

Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2013:29:187-205. doi: 10.1080/02648725.2013.801238. Epub 2013 Aug 2.

Abstract

Zebrafish offer a unique vertebrate model for research areas such as drug development, disease modeling and other biological exploration. There is significant conservation of genetics and other cellular networks among zebrafish and other vertebrate models, including humans. Here we discuss the recent work and efforts made in different fields of biology to explore the potential of zebrafish. Along with this, we also reviewed the concept of systems biology. A biological system is made up of a large number of components that interact in a huge variety of combinations. To understand completely the behavior of a system, it is important to know its components and interactions, and this can be achieved through a systems biology approach. At the end of the paper we present a concept of integrating zebrafish into the systems biology approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Systems Biology / methods*
  • Zebrafish* / genetics
  • Zebrafish* / growth & development
  • Zebrafish* / metabolism