What did George Streisinger and colleagues primarily establish for zebrafish during the 1970s and 1980s that boosted its research status?
Answer
Its rapid development, external embryos, and genetic tractability tools
The ascension of *Danio rerio* to a premier biomedical model, receiving top-tier NIH funding, is directly attributed to the pioneering efforts led by George Streisinger and his team during the 1970s and 1980s. Their key contributions centered on establishing the practical utility of the organism in the lab. This utility stemmed from features like its rapid developmental timeline, the fact that its embryos develop externally allowing for easy visualization, and the development of robust tools enabling genetic manipulation. These factors, alongside having a sequenced genome, made it an exceptionally powerful system for vertebrate research.
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