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24 December 2018 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Anja Aucamp
Research possibilities of zebrafish exposed
Leading global genetics laboratories are replacing research on human and animal populations with zebrafish, says Prof Paul Grobler, Head of the UFS Department of Genetics.

The UFS Department of Genetics is on par with current research trends in terms of their zebrafish project. About a year has passed since they seriously started focusing on the potential of this tiny four-centimetre-long fish, and the possibilities are hugely exciting.

Looks are deceiving

Leading global genetics laboratories are replacing research on human and animal populations with zebrafish due to several fascinating reasons, of which the most profound is probably that the zebrafish share large portions of its genome with mammals. For genetics researchers this may make a lot of sense, but most people battle to see any resemblance between a six-foot-tall rugby player or 600 kg buffalo and a small, nearly transparent fish. It is in the detail, the researchers say.

Fast, effective, and visible

“The complete genome sequence of the zebrafish is known, and as much as 84% of genes known to be associated with human disease have zebrafish counterparts,” explains Head of Department, Prof Paul Grobler. Another advantage is the fast breeding rate and short generation time, and the fact that some research is ethically more justifiable when done on fish larvae rather than on adult mammals. The fact that zebrafish embryos are virtually transparent, also allow researchers to examine the development of internal structures without effort. Every blood vessel in a living zebrafish embryo is visible under a low-power microscope.

Multidisciplinary

Zebrafish provide research potential for many different study fields besides that of Prof Grobler and his team, Sue Rica Schneider and Dr Willem Coetzer. In the near future, they aim to have undergraduate students use zebrafish as a research model to develop a real sense of research and laboratory work. The Department of Chemistry are also initiating research on zebrafish housed in the Department of Genetics.

News Archive

Minister to visit University of the Free State’s job creation project
2007-11-12

A high level delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulu Xingwana, will visit the Mangaung / University of the Free State Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP) in Bloemfontein on Monday, 12 November 2007, to learn more of the progress and implementation of job creation efforts in the Free State and the country.

The University of the Free State is involved in the National Programme for the Creation of Small Enterprises and Jobs for the Second Economy as part of the government’s Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA).

The UFS was appointed as a training coordinator for small enterprises and community based organisations using the MUCPP partnership model, informed by the successful Self-help Group model from the Indian NGO, Hand-in-Hand. It is hoped that this partnership model of the UFS can potentially serve as an example to other provinces as part of the programme to create small enterprises and jobs in the second economy.

The delegation that will visit the MUCPP site in Rocklands includes Minister Xingwana, Chairperson of the President’s International Investment Council (IIC), Dr Percy Barnevick, and the national leader of the Jobs for Growth Programme, Ms Tina Radebe.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@mail.ufs.ac.za  
9 November 2007
 

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