Zebrafish, Medaka, and Other Small Fishes


Book Description

This book provides cutting-edge studies and technologies using small fishes, including zebrafish, medaka, and other fishes as new model animals for molecular biology, developmental biology, and medicine. It also introduces eccentric fish models that are pioneering new frontiers of biology. Zebrafish and medaka have been developed as lower vertebrate model organisms because these small fish are easy to raise in the laboratory and are useful for the live imaging of the morphology and activity of cells and tissues in intact animals. By virtue of those specific advantages, fish studies have demonstrated the common features of vertebrates and raised further questions toward understanding the mystery of life. The book consists of four parts: “Development and Cell Biology”, “Homeostasis and Reproduction”, “Clinical Models”, and “Eccentric Fish”. Together they describes the core area of small fish study – often considered mere zoology but which is actually proving to be the universal basis of life. Written by leading scientists, the book helps readers to understand small fishes, inspires scientists to utilize small fishes in their studies, and encourages anyone who wants to participate in the large and fantastic world of small fish.




Laboratory Fish in Biomedical Research


Book Description

Fish, and particularly zebrafish, have become the fastest-growing segment of the research population. They offer several advantages, in terms of biology and technologies to apply, and thus are employed in numerous research fields. Laboratory Fish in Biomedical Research: Biology, Husbandry and Research Applications for Zebrafish, Medaka, Killifish, Swordtail Fish, Cavefish, Stickleback, Goldfish and Danionella Translucida addresses the relevant and increasing need to collect cutting-edge knowledge on husbandry, maintenance, welfare and experimental protocols of the most common freshwater species under standard laboratory conditions. - Provides husbandry and management protocols, devices and water systems - Shows strength and weakness of breeding - Explores potential scientific applications and experimental protocols. with regards to the most used freshwater fish used for scientific purposes




Fish Development and Genetics


Book Description

The zebrafish is the most important fish model in developmental andgenetic analyses. This book contains 19 review articles covering abroad spectrum of topics, from development to genetic tools. Thecontents range from early development, the role of maternal factorsand gastrulation, to tissue differentiation and organogenesis, such asdevelopment of the organizer, notochord, floor plate, nervous system, somites, muscle, skeleton and endoderm




Medaka


Book Description

Oryzias latipes, known as medaka, is a model organism from East Asia. Breeding of this small, egg-laying freshwater teleost fish has long been popular among hobbyists in Japan. Now, as biological science has entered the genome era, the medaka provides significant advantages that make it one of the most valuable vertebrate models: a large collection of spontaneous mutants collected over a century, the presence of highly polymorphic inbred lines established over decades, and a recently completed genome sequence. This book is the first comprehensive monograph to cover a variety of medaka research. It opens with a historical view of medaka, followed by a series of research topics in the four major areas where the medaka is increasingly important: genomics, genetics, and resources; organogenesis and disease models; germ cells, sex determination, and reproduction; and evolution. Readers will find state-of-the-art information on medaka genetics and genomics such as the first isolation of active transposons in vertebrates, the influence of chromatin structure on sequence variation, fine QTL analysis, and versatile mutants as human disease models.




Targeted Genome Editing Using Site-Specific Nucleases


Book Description

This book serves as an introduction to targeted genome editing, beginning with the background of this rapidly developing field and methods for generation of engineered nucleases. Applications of genome editing tools are then described in detail, in iPS cells and diverse organisms such as mice, rats, marine invertebrates, fish, frogs, and plants. Tools that are mentioned include zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR/Cas9, all of which have received much attention in recent years as breakthrough technologies. Genome editing with engineered nucleases allows us to precisely change the target genome of living cells and is a powerful way to control functional genes. It is feasible in almost all organisms ranging from bacteria to plants and animals, as well as in cultured cells such as ES and iPS cells. Various genome modifications have proven successful, including gene knockout and knock-in experiments with targeting vectors and chromosomal editing. Genome editing technologies hold great promise for the future, for example in biomedical research, clinical medicine, and generation of crops and livestock with desirable traits. A wide range of readers will find this book interesting, and with its focus on applications in a variety of organisms and cells, the book will be valuable for life scientists in all fields.




Osteoimmunology


Book Description

Osteoimmunology: Interactions of the Immune and Skeletal Systems, Second Edition, explores the advancements that have been made in the field during the last 40 years, including valuable information on our understanding of the interactions between hematopoietic, immune, and bone cells, now known as the field of osteoimmunology. This comprehensive work offers the most extensive summaries of research trends in the field and their translation into new therapeutics. Early chapters deal with the development of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, hematopoietic stem cells, T and B-lymphocytes, and communications between these cellular elements, while later sections contain discussions of the signaling pathways by which RANKL influences osteoclast development and function. Subsequent chapters explore the effects that estrogen has on bone and the immune system, the development of pathologic conditions, and the growing research around osteoporosis, Paget's disease, the genetics of bone disease, and bone cancer metastasis. - Explains the intricate interaction between the immune system and bone - Features detailed discussions of the key cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the homeostasis of the individual systems - Facilitates greater understanding of osteoimmunologic networks, their environments, and how this understanding leads to better treatments for human diseases involving both systems




Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science


Book Description

Building upon the success of previous editions of the bestselling Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science, first published in 1994, this latest revision combines all three volumes in one definitive guide. It covers the essential principles and practices of Laboratory Animal Science as well as selected animal models in scientific disciplines where much progress has been made in recent years. Each individual chapter focuses on an important subdiscipline of laboratory animal science, and the chapters can be read and used as stand-alone texts, with only limited necessity to consult other chapters for information. With new contributors at the forefront of their fields, the book reflects the scientific and technological advances of the past decade. It also responds to advances in our understanding of animal behavior, emphasizing the importance of implementing the three Rs: replacing live animals with alternative methods, reducing the number of animals used, and refining techniques to minimize animal discomfort. This fourth edition will be useful all over the world as a textbook for laboratory animal science courses for postgraduate and undergraduate students and as a handbook for scientists who work with animals in their research, for university veterinarians, and for other specialists in laboratory animal science.




Stem Cells and Cancer in Hepatology


Book Description

Stem Cells and Cancer in Hepatology: From the Essentials to Application offers basic scientists and clinicians in the fields of stem cells, hepatology and oncology an overview of the interaction between liver biology, stem cells and cancer. It discusses how the liver performs regeneration and repair, the role stem cells play in these processes, and the mechanisms by which liver cancers are initiated and developed. As the field of stem cells and cancer stem cells in hepatology is new and dynamic, thus making it difficult for researchers and clinicians to understand the most relevant historic and novel studies, this volume addresses that challenge. - Addresses both the basic and clinical perspectives of the topic, including sections on normal and cancer stem cells of the liver - Provides coverage of the molecular mechanisms of liver development, the proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells during development, epithelial cell plasticity, generation of hepatocytes by transdifferentiation, liver tissue engineering, and more - Presents a study of hepatic stem cells that will help readers understand critical events during development, stem cell differentiation towards functional liver cell fate, and tumor initiation




The Clinical Chemistry of Laboratory Animals


Book Description

Key features: Serves as the detailed, authoritative source of the clinical chemistry of the most commonly used laboratory animals Includes detailed chapters dedicated to descriptions of clinical chemistry-related topics specific to each laboratory species as well as organ/class-specific chapters Presents information regarding evaluation and interpretation of a variety of individual clinical chemistry end points Concludes with detailed chapters dedicated to descriptions of statistical analyses and biomarker development of clinical chemistry-related topics Provides extensive reference lists at the end of each chapter to facilitate further study Extensively updated and expanded since the publication of Walter F. Loeb and Fred W. Quimby’s second edition in 1999, the new The Clinical Chemistry of Laboratory Animals, Third Edition continues as the most comprehensive reference on in vivo animal studies. By organizing the book into species- and organ/class-specific chapters, this book provides information to enable a conceptual understanding of clinical chemistry across laboratory species as well as information on evaluation and interpretation of clinical chemistry data relevant to specific organ systems. Now sponsored by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM), this well-respected resource includes chapters on multiple laboratory species and provides pertinent information on their unique physiological characteristics, methods for sample collection, and preanalytical sources of variation for the particular species. Basic methodology for common procedures for each species is also discussed. New Chapters in the Third Edition Include: The Laboratory Zebrafish and Other Fishes Evaluation of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function and Injury Evaluation of Skeletal Muscle Function and Injury Evaluation of Bone Function and Injury Vitamins Development of Biomarkers Statistical Methods The Clinical Chemistry of Laboratory Animals, Third Edition is intended as a reference for use by veterinary students, clinical veterinarians, verterinary toxicologists, veterinary clinical pathologists, and laboratory animal veterinarians to aid in study design, collection of samples, and interpretation of clinical chemistry data for laboratory species.