Q&A: What's in the Basement of the SUND Building?
Have you ever wondered how the space in the basement (Level 0) of the SUND building is utilised? This week’s Q&A offers a glimpse into some of the fascinating features tucked away beneath the surface.
In earlier newsletters, we explored bathing facilities and art. This week, we’re diving back into the water. Did you know that hundreds of fish are swimming around on the ground floor of the SUND building?
These fish are zebrafish, and there’s a good reason why they’ve taken up residence at SDU. Zebrafish possess an extraordinary ability to regenerate. For instance, if their heart is damaged, they can repair the affected tissue – a capability, unfortunately, the human heart lacks.
How can this knowledge be applied? Researchers are investigating the processes that occur in the body when zebrafish regenerate. They perform surgery on the fish, removing a small part of the heart, and then study them using techniques like microscopic observation and genetic analysis.
This is fundamental research designed to deepen our understanding of biological processes. In the long term, it could even pave the way for new treatments for heart damage, such as that caused by heart attacks.
A good life for the fish
The zebrafish aren’t swimming in ordinary tap water. Their tanks are filled with Ro-water, which is purified and enriched with minerals to closely replicate the ideal environment for the fish. This ensures they thrive and mirrors conditions used in research facilities around the world, enabling global comparisons in zebrafish studies.
In the room housing the fish tanks, the lights switch on and off at the same time each day, maintaining a natural circadian rhythm for the fish. They are fed twice daily, with newly hatched fish receiving three feedings a day, consisting of a light sprinkle of dry food.
Zebrafish are schooling fish, meaning they naturally swim in groups. So, they’re not alone in the aquariums. At present, there are about 800 zebrafish on Level 0 of the SUND building. Zebrafish, by the way, are no strangers to SDU—the Department of Biology has been keeping them for many years.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, where we’ll share more about the exciting things happening in the "basement" of the SUND building.
Questions & Answers
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If you want to learn more about research on zebrafish and hearts, read: Apex Resection in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a Model of Heart Regeneration: A Video-Assisted Guide