Omics in Zebrafish Teratogenesis

Area of Science:

• Integrative biology and toxicology
• Genomics and developmental biology

Background:

• The genome revolution and omics technologies have reshaped biological system understanding.
• Traditional developmental toxicity assessment relies on model organisms, but omics approaches offer new quantitative insights.
• Teratology, the study of birth defects, benefits from advanced molecular and systems biology tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the utility of zebrafish embryos (ZE) as a model for developmental toxicity assessment.
• To highlight the available tools within the zebrafish model for analyzing early embryotoxic events.
• To discuss the role of ZE in advancing teratology and replacing traditional animal testing.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on zebrafish embryo applications in toxicology.
• Analysis of omics technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) in developmental toxicity.
• Examination of zebrafish embryo's unique characteristics for in toto developmental studies.

Main Results:

• Zebrafish embryos (ZE) are emerging as a key alternative model for developmental toxicity testing.
• ZE offer a unique system for in vivo analysis of developmental alterations.
• ZE are legally recognized as a replacement model for early developmental toxicity studies.

Conclusions:

• Omics approaches integrated with model organisms like ZE are crucial for future developmental toxicity assessment.
• The zebrafish model provides a powerful, ethically advantageous platform for studying teratogenesis.
• Advancements in the zebrafish toolbox will enhance the understanding and prediction of developmental toxicants.