Zebrafish: Development of a Vertebrate Model Organism

Zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) are a small‐bodied tropical, freshwater fish species originally from South Asia. The ease of care, year‐round prolific breeding, and transparent, external development have made these fish a popular model vertebrate for many fields of biology. Over the past 40 years, the development of methods for genetic and developmental manipulation have driven a rapid rise in their use in research. This review provides an orientation to the zebrafish as a model system, from its ecology and life history to its early use in research and adoption as a key genetic model for vertebrate development. Its current uses and key techniques that highlight future areas of development of the system are also discussed. Finally, an introduction to the essentials of zebrafish use and care are presented, highlighting the ease of adoption of this system for teaching and research use.