Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a valuable model organism for investigating musculoskeletal development and the pathophysiology of associated diseases. Key genes and biological processes in zebrafish are very similar to those in humans, and the rapid development and transparent embryos make zebrafish ideal for in vivo studies of bone and muscle formation as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal disorders.
Research is focusing on the utility of zebrafish in modeling various musculoskeletal disorders, with particular emphasis on bone diseases such as osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta, and muscle disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
