Research conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Massachusetts Medical School has revealed that zebrafish can rapidly senesce, or age, in as little as two weeks. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, provides the first comprehensive insight into how zebrafish age and the implications it has for understanding how aging works in other species, including humans.

For the first time, researchers have been able to study the aging process in zebrafish, an important model organism for biomedical research. The team found that zebrafish can age rapidly, with changes in gene expression and physical appearance occurring in as little as two weeks. These changes included a decrease in the expression of certain genes associated with metabolism and immunity, which are known to decline with age in many species. They also observed a decrease in the fish’s swimming activity and an increase in the appearance of age-related markers, such as melanin spots. This rapid senescence has implications for understanding how aging works in other species, including humans.

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source: Phys.org