Tropical fish have exceptional organic options: they develop and shed a number of units of enamel over their lifetimes and regenerate tissue following damage.
That is why the College of Manitoba (UM) formally opened its $2.5-million Rady Biomedical Fish Facility on Monday, positioned within the Rady College of Well being Sciences, to advance analysis into these capabilities.
“About 70 per cent of [fish] genes are the identical as human genes,” mentioned Dr. Benjamin Lindsey, an assistant professor of human anatomy and cell science on the Max Rady Faculty of Medication.
The power, housed within the basement of the Chown Constructing, is supplied with state-of-the-art instruments to check two freshwater species: zebrafish and Mexican tetra fish. It at the moment holds about 2,000 zebrafish and 250 Mexican tetras, maintained in a high-tech multi-rack system that robotically regulates water high quality.
Solely researcher in Canada utilizing Mexican tetras
Dr. Devi Atukorallaya, an affiliate professor of oral biology on the Dr. Gerald Niznick Faculty of Dentistry, is the one researcher in Canada utilizing Mexican tetras for biomedical analysis. She investigates cranium and facial improvement in human embryos utilizing zebrafish and Mexican tetra fish embryos, that are clear.
“Below the microscope, I can examine how bones, enamel, organs, and sensory programs develop. This helps us perceive human congenital malformations, akin to cleft palate,” Atukorallaya mentioned.
The Mexican tetra species gives further genetic insights resulting from its two evolutionary sorts: surface-dwelling fish with eyes and pale-coloured cave fish with out eyes, tailored to residing in darkness. Atukorallaya has pioneered analysis by exposing fish eggs to alcohol, learning tooth and tastebud abnormalities equivalent to fetal alcohol spectrum dysfunction in people.
Zebrafish’s perk: Regenerative tissue
Lindsey, a neuroscientist, is one of some Canadian researchers utilizing zebrafish to check mind and spinal wire accidents.
“The neural stem cells in zebrafish are superb at regenerating tissue after trauma. If we will uncover how they do that, it might someday result in remedies for people with mind accidents or neurodegenerative ailments, akin to Parkinson’s,” Lindsey mentioned.
