Genetic Approaches in Zebrafish Neurology: Genetic, Drug and Therapy Insights

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a valuable vertebrate model organism widely used in biological and biomedical research due to its rapid embryonic development, optical transparency, high fecundity, and genetic similarity to humans. These characteristics have made zebrafish an important experimental model in developmental biology, toxicology, cancer research, and particularly in the investigation of neurodegenerative diseases. A significant proportion of human genes have functional counterparts in zebrafish, allowing researchers to explore disease mechanisms and genetic pathways relevant to human neurological disorders. Advances in genetic technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, transgenic approaches, and mutagenesis screening, have further strengthened the use of zebrafish in neuroscience research. These tools enable precise manipulation of genes involved in neuronal development, degeneration, and disease progression. Zebrafish models have been successfully employed to study major neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. In addition, the model provides an efficient platform for drug screening, neurotoxicity studies, and therapeutic evaluation. This review highlights the role of zebrafish in genetic approaches to neurological research, emphasizing its contributions to disease modeling, drug discovery, and the development of potential therapeutic strategies for complex neurodegenerative disorders.