This facility enables large-scale, collaborative projects that would not be possible for individual investigators, helping scientists understand human development and disease, from birth defects and cancer to muscle and nerve disorders. Zebrafish embryos are transparent and develop outside the body, making them useful for observing growth and development.

Washington University in St. Louis is home to one of the largest zebrafish facilities in the world. The facility is equipped with robotic feeding and cleaning systems; it is the world’s most modern.

This facility allows large-scale, collaborative projects that would not be possible for individual investigators, helping scientists understand human development and disease, from birth defects and cancer to muscle and nerve disorders. The facility enables both large-scale forward genetic screens and generation of mutations in genes of interest, as well as transgenic strains.

A common type of minnow, the zebrafish is popular in both scientific research and home aquariums. Zebrafish embryos are transparent and develop outside the body, making them useful for observing growth and development.

The facility includes nearly 7,000 tanks, including a 2,000-tank nursery, and allows scientists to perform experiments requiring tens of thousands of fish. The robotic nature of the feeding process allows large numbers of fish to grow quickly facilitating genetic experiments.

Beyond shear numbers of fish, the facility has other resources available to investigators. The facility also has the capabilities for obtaining, viewing, and manipulating fish embryos, including microinjections.