Transposable Elements:Strategies and Mechanism of Transposition in Danio rerio, a Genetic Model

Zebra fish (Danio rerio) is an excellent model animal to study vertebrate development by various genetic approaches. External development and transparent nature of its embryo makes it feasible to visualize and manipulate a cell in the living organism. Genetic engineering is well suitable in this organism due to the availability and easy collection of large number of embryos from the adult fish. Several approaches have been implemented to manipulation the zebra fish at DNA, RNA and protein level by employing different technologies (EMU and trapping based mutagenesis, TILLING, site specific recombination, transgenics and so on). Identification of several transposon in this model organism has opened the doors for genetic manipulation with a new approach which can be effectively used in other animals. Taking these into consideration it can be used in transgenic development which would increase sustainability by manifolds in term of production and vigour traits production. This study highlight the recent developments in the field of insertional mutagenesis in zebra fish, the mechanisms and concepts of new transposon-based mutagenesis approaches under development which may be used as reference approach for adopting in commercially important fish or gene silencing for disease diagnosis in higher vertebrates . This review is an eye opening signal for researcher which would ignite deep interest to carry forward these modern tools and techniques to address the short falls of genetic improvement strategies indispensable for sustainable aquaculture.