Fin clipping of zebrafish for genotyping
The purpose of the experiment is to identify the genotype of individual fish by collecting a tissue sample. The procedure is not expected to inflict a large damaging effect on the animals and the experiment is classified as mild. The adult fish that will be genotyped are housed for breeding purposes to produce eggs and larva to be used in experiments and analyses.
To be able to perform accurate experiments and analyses on eggs and larva it is crucial to know the genotype of the parental generation. The eggs and larva are used to investigate genetic contribution to diseases/disorders such as epilepsy and other neurological disorders where we are investigating the mechanisms that cause the diseases/disorders and also search for potential new drugs/treatments where there are none today.
As this is a routine procedure necessary for most of our fish, the number of animals used in the end will depend on the amount of research activity going on at any time. The uncertainty around how many research groups will have fish in our facility over the coming years, what funding will be provided for which projects, the necessity of generating new lines (which requires a large amount of genotyping), the capacity to perform the procedure, and the max capacity of our facility to house fish etc. will all play a role in the final number of fish genotyped each year. The number is considered to be an overestimate and is based on the actual number of fish present in our facility at this moment, expected activity from our research group and other groups planning to house fish at our facility and expected interest in housing fish at our facility over the coming four years as well as the maximum age we house fish. The estimate is set to 4500 fish over a period of four years. The final number will be reported annually and is expected to be lower.
The experiment is refined by being performed with the use of anesthetics to minimize stress and pain during the procedure, and the tissue sample will be collected from a non-critical part of the tail fin that is expected to regrow within two weeks. Quick and accurate performance of the procedure will lessen the amount of time out of water and reduce possible harm to the fish. The fish are housed solitarily for three days or information from genotyping is available and it can be put back in grouped housing to allow for natural behavior like shoaling. The animal will be observed closely during the first days to address any distress. When possible, genotyping will be performed on embryos from the adults to reduce the amount of adults being used and replace the use of adults where possible.
To be able to perform accurate experiments and analyses on eggs and larva it is crucial to know the genotype of the parental generation. The eggs and larva are used to investigate genetic contribution to diseases/disorders such as epilepsy and other neurological disorders where we are investigating the mechanisms that cause the diseases/disorders and also search for potential new drugs/treatments where there are none today.
As this is a routine procedure necessary for most of our fish, the number of animals used in the end will depend on the amount of research activity going on at any time. The uncertainty around how many research groups will have fish in our facility over the coming years, what funding will be provided for which projects, the necessity of generating new lines (which requires a large amount of genotyping), the capacity to perform the procedure, and the max capacity of our facility to house fish etc. will all play a role in the final number of fish genotyped each year. The number is considered to be an overestimate and is based on the actual number of fish present in our facility at this moment, expected activity from our research group and other groups planning to house fish at our facility and expected interest in housing fish at our facility over the coming four years as well as the maximum age we house fish. The estimate is set to 4500 fish over a period of four years. The final number will be reported annually and is expected to be lower.
The experiment is refined by being performed with the use of anesthetics to minimize stress and pain during the procedure, and the tissue sample will be collected from a non-critical part of the tail fin that is expected to regrow within two weeks. Quick and accurate performance of the procedure will lessen the amount of time out of water and reduce possible harm to the fish. The fish are housed solitarily for three days or information from genotyping is available and it can be put back in grouped housing to allow for natural behavior like shoaling. The animal will be observed closely during the first days to address any distress. When possible, genotyping will be performed on embryos from the adults to reduce the amount of adults being used and replace the use of adults where possible.