The zebra danio or zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) is tropical fish belonging to the minnow family (Cyprinidae). It grows to about 6 cm, making it one of the largest of the danios, and lives for around 5 years. Like other danios it is omnivorous and gets along well with other fish in community tanks. Zebra Danios serve as a common and useful model organism for studies of vertebrate development, in part because their embryos are transparent. Thus, researchers can mutate a danio and see the effects of the genetic changes on its development. Because of this interest it has been one of the first organisms to have its genome sequenced. The results of genetic engeneering in these fishes have been used to produce the Glofish, a glow-in-the-dark aquarium pet.

Other fish also share the name zebrafish.

See also

• Freshwater aquarium fish species

External Link

• The Zebrafish Information Network