NIBB International Practical Course

Message

  This is the fifth International Practical Course and the third on Medaka and Zebrafish. The course this year will focus on learning the various skills and techniques of Medaka biology. The recent increase in the use of small fish as model organisms is a result of advances in our understanding of a variety of biological phenomena achieved using small fish as research tools, which would have been difficult if mammals were employed. One of the techniques that has enabled these achievements is the use of transgenic fish. Particularly, the development of a BAC homologous recombination system has liberated researchers from the troublesome identification of elements responsible for the gene of interest, making it easy to reveal the molecular mechanisms occurring in vivo with transgenic fish.
  In this course the participants will learn how to choose BACs of interest and generate and purify recombinant BACs. The participants will inject the BACs into Medaka eggs and see examples of the introduced gene expression (GFP) in specific cells.
  Another important technique covered in this course is the cryopreservation of sperm. Because the generation of transgenic Medaka produces many lines, it is often quite difficult to find the space to raise all of these precious transgenic fish. This course presents cryopreservation techniques that allow researchers to keep sperm in liquid nitrogen for many years and will cover methods for inseminating eggs using frozen sperm.
  In addition to these techniques, the course will introduce a gene induction system for both embryos and adults, which has been developed at NIBB, using a combination of heat shock and cre-loxP systems.

  We hope you take this opportunity to take part in this enjoyable and informative event!

Minoru TANAKA

5^th