LAB ANIMALS
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Xenopus Laevis (African Clawed
Frogs)
Xenopus Laevis is a gentle animal that lives entirely in fresh water and can repeatedly be induced to lay eggs by simple hormone injection. These features, coupled with the large size of the embryos (~1 mm in diameter), allowing their micromanipulation and microinjection, and their rapid development makes Xenopus an excellent system for analyzing early vertebrate development. For decades, biologists have used Xenopus laevis as their model system for research on a wide spectrum of fundamental issues concerning vertebrate development. The chief disadvantages of Xenopus laevis are its long generation time (two years) and its tetraploidy. However, other species of Xenopus (e.g. Xenopus tropicalis) that do not have these disadvantages may be more useful substitutes, particularly for molecular biology.
Xenopi are grouped in Family Pipidae, all of whose members are wholly aquatic and
tongueless. In addition, all Pipids embody a number of other exceptional
characteristics: a wedge-shaped body which is dorsoventrally flattened, small,
upward-gazing eyes, no visible eardrums, unique vocalizing apparatus requiring
no inflatable sacs, no teeth, very slippery integument, etc. Xenopus laevis
is perhaps the best known of the 14 species in Genus Xenopus. All are
native only to sub-Saharan Africa, where they are commonly known as Platannas.
The term "Xenopus" is Latin for "peculiar foot," an apt
description of the enormous webbed, five-toed, three-clawed rear feet typical of
the group. "Laevis" means "smooth." Other Pipids include the
so-called Surinam Toad (Genus Pipa) of Central and South America, perhaps
one of the world's strangest looking anurans, as well as the diminutive West
African Hymenochirus and Pseudohymenochirus.
What we use:
Xenopus
embryos at 20-22 stages.
What for:
Primary neuronal cultures.
We also use rats and mice for our research ...