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CCMB Scientists to find curative solutions for human diseases from Zebra fish research
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A Raju, Hyderabad
October 26 , 2016
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The Hyderabad based Center for Cellular and Micro Biology (CCMB) has set
up first of its kind Zebra fish facility in the country to conduct
research on Zebra fish and find out curative solutions for human
diseases such as cancer, neural conditions and eye diseases.
According
to Dr. Rakesh K Mishra, director of CCMB, the genomic traits of Zebra
fish have a lot in common with humans. The genomic configurations and
functions of Zebra fish are similar to that of human genetic system. As
per scientific findings about 70 per cent of protein coding attributes
and 84 per cent of diseases causing genes in humans are present in Zebra
fish.
“With similar genomic functionality and configuration
found in humans and Zebra fish, today the scientists prefer Zebra fish
as their ideal model for genetic manipulation to identify the root cause
of various diseases and in the process explore appropriate
palliatives,” informed Dr. Rakesh.
The scientific community feels
that functional equivalence or similar genome dynamics between humans
and zebra fish has unfolded tantalizing opportunities in discovering
answers to a plethora of medical problems including cancer, neural and
eye diseases.
Explaining further, as to why Zebra fish is
preferred as an ideal model for genetic modifications, the CCMB director
says that the main advantage with zebra fish is its transparent innards
or anatomy which is visible to the naked eye. “The transparent body
structure of the zebra fish makes it easier and convenient for
scientists to monitor the mutations and changes that occur as a result
of genetic manipulations and introduction of disease-related mutagens.
This helps in to zero in on the causative factors of a disease and also
enable us to come out with possible medical solutions for a problem,”
explained Dr. Rakesh.
Another important feature about Zebra fish
is its amazing regenerative capacity, wherein the fish can recreate
broken appendages along the body axis like the fins, and tail and also
repairing and rejuvenating heart muscles and the eyes.
According
to scientists, Zebra fish gives the advantage of monitoring
morphological development right from its embryonic stage to its adult
phase which helps the scientists to isolate the regenerative components
in the gene. “Our main focus is identification of this regenerative
factor in the zebra fish, which will help open up possibilities in
replacement and repair human body parts,” informed the director.
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