Zebrafish Embryo Genotyper vs Fin Clipping
When it comes to deciding your approach to efficient genotyping consider time, cost and space.
Consider the amount of time it takes your lab to raise and maintain 6- to 8-week-old fish without knowing their genotype. The process of fin-clipping can be time consuming in order to ensure safe, and uncontaminated fin-clips. Instead of investing time into the unknown, use the Zebrafish Embryo Genotyper (ZEG) to know your zebrafish as early as 3-day old embryos and select the embryos for experimentation with confidence! Cut down on your labor cost and save the time it takes to fin-clip by utilizing the ZEG in your lab protocols.
The process of fin-clipping cost comes from raising and maintaining the zebrafish in your pre-genotyping. It also comes with risk because it can lead to extreme harm, damage and even death of the fish. On the other hand, the ZEG has no long-term detrimental effects, and the embryos can be raised to adulthood!
Save space by only storing the genotypes that you are selecting for!
Learn more about the differences between the ZEG and Fin Clipping protocols to identify where you will save!
| Know your fish! | Zebrafish Embryo Genotyper(ZEG ) | Fin Clipping |
| Age of Zebrafish | 72 hpf – 7 dpf Embryos | 6- 8-week-old fish |
| DNA Sample Extraction | Catch embryos at 72 hpf put on ZEG Chip Vibrate using the ZEG for 7 minutes Remove E3 for PCR Put fish in 96-well plate Monitor fish for recovery | Disinfect and prepare fish tanks Tricaine adult fish Transfer individual fish to petri dish Fin Clip Put fish back into receiving tanks Monitor fish for recovery |
| Fish Recovery | Low-level acute stress response No long-lasting effects on survival, morphology, or behavior >95% survival rate Raise post-ZEG embryos to adulthood | Potential adverse effects include: Infection Injury Swimming failure Abnormal eating behavior Over-exposure to anesthetic agents |
| Rate of extraction | 96 embryos per 1 hour | 96 fish per 2.5 hours |
| PCR Preparation | Preparation time: 15 minutes Use E3 samples directly in PCR Set up and run PCR | Preparation time: 60 minutes Place sample in NaOH 95℃ for 20 minutes Neutralize with Tris-HCL Set up and run PCR |
| Analysis | More sensitive More efficient Higher throughput Great for selecting CRISPR knockouts! | Less sensitive Fish might die before selection |
| Zebrafish Selection | Mark your 96-well plate for Zebrafish selection Select specific genotypes while embryos! Only store the fish you need with confidence! | Wash Tanks Retape Tanks and Store Select fish for experimentation. (Remember you already invested time and space into raising these fish!) |
| Approx. Tank Ratio (depends on genotype selected for) | 1 tank needed for selected embryos. | 4 tanks for needed for selected zebrafish |
| Tank Cost ($0.22/tank/day) | $0.88 (1 tank for 4 days) | $37.84 (4 tanks for 43 days) |
| Time for Tank Transportation | 10 minutes | 40 minutes |
| Training | Learn to use the ZEG in 10 minutes. Learn now by watching the ZEG Demo Video | More experience the better results Need initial training for fish handling Need Health Monitoring Training |
| Total Time | ~1 hour 25 minutes | ~4 hours 10 minutes |
| Cost of Labor ($15/hour) | ~$21.25 | ~$60.50 |