Mayo Validates Zebrafish as Nicotine Research Model

Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have validated the zebrafish as a functional model for nicotine addiction research. The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The zebrafish is valuable because it is easy  to study and exhibits many of the genetic and behavioral aspects of humans. The fish are essentially transparent – and multiple generations can be developed in a short time. Principal researcher, Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., says the zebrafish will be an essential tool for studying new therapies for nicotine addiction in the 21st Century. More on his research can be found in Mayo’s research magazine, Discovery’s Edge.