The Fish Facility is a technical unit specialised in production, care and maintenance of teleost fish used in biomedical research at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile.
The Fish Facility was established in 2003 by the Laboratory of Experimental Ontogeny [view] sponsored by the ICBM, Wellcome Trust, and Fondecyt, and through donations from the laboratory of Dr. Jochen Wittbrodt, EMBL-Heidelberg. It currently provides expertise and service to many investigators from the ICBM.
Teleost Species and Aquaria Systems
The Fish Facility houses wild type, mutant and transgenic lines of the following teleost species: zebrafish (Danio rerio), medaka (Oryziaslatipes), and annual killifish of the genus Austrolebias (A. nigrippinnis, A. Bellottii, A. charrua) and Notobranchius (N. furzeri).
[see list of fish lines] - [view phylogenetic relationship between teleost species]
Current infrastructure comprises six commercial stand-alone re-circulating aquaria systems (5 for zebrafish, 1 for medaka; see 3D movie above) and three custom-made systems (for annual killifish) housed in three separate rooms.
All aquaria systems contain filtration units that assure optimal water quality [learn more] and are fully quarantined (all lines have been established from bleached eggs). To assure a healthy fish population, established biosanitary guidelines [view] and permanent disease monitoring are followed.
In 2009, the Fish Facility will undergo a major upgrade in infrastructure and technology.
Organisation
Strategic planning of the Fish Facility follows the guidelines provided by a Scientific Board directed by Miguel Concha MD PhD [view board].
Management of the facility is in charge ofAlejandro Chamorro (Veterinary Physician) and a group of four technical assistants [view staff].
.Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN)
.Medakafish Home Page
.Yamabook - MEDAKA Biology & Strains
.Nothobranchius furzeri (NFIN)
.South American Annuals Group
.British Killifish Association
.American Killifish Association
![[view phylogenetic relationship between teleost species]](Images/img_teleosts.png){kind=link}
