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Dr Love's zebrafish

Dr Don Love and his team at Auckland University are using zebrafish to investigate heritable diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

He met with Year 13 Biology students to discuss his work and some of the techniques commonly used in his laboratory.

Watch clips of Dr Love explaining:

  • What makes zebrafish good models for some human diseases – and not others

  • Genes, chromosomes and genomes – and what you need to know in order to create a targeted gene effect

  • The importance of PCR and DNA sequencing in identifying fish with a specific mutation

  • Why the future represents a ‘new dawn’ in biological research

  • Careers prospects for geneticists in New Zealand

To find out more about Don’s work, see the article: Zebrafish make a difference.

Students participating in this 2007 video conference were from:

  • Stratford High School

  • Wellington College

  • Waipa Area School

Video clips

Why are zebrafish good research models?

Animal models are often needed to understand the complexity of disease and to find treatments.

Rights: The University of Waikato

But it's a fish!

The great race between mice and fish.

Rights: The University of Waikato

Are zebrafish good models?

There's a big difference between them and us!

Rights: The University of Waikato

Insults equal change

But it's probably not what you're thinking...

Rights: The University of Waikato

Designing genetic change

There's a lot you need to know!

Rights: The University of Waikato

Checking for mutations

Sometimes it is necessary for scientists to deliberately cause mutations.

Rights: The University of Waikato

It's not just genes

The human genome contains more than 3,000 million base pairs.

Rights: The University of Waikato

The road is long (with many a winding turn...)

What have been the implications of the mapping of the human genome?

Rights: The University of Waikato

Research funding

He's not it in for the money — and that might be a good thing!

Rights: The University of Waikato

Career prospects in genetics

Thinking of a career in genetics?

Rights: The University of Waikato

 

Published: 27 November 2007,Updated: 28 December 2016