Demented Killifish

[Oblio]

Interesting article

Protein Blobs Linked to Alzheimer’s Affect Aging in All Cells | Quanta Magazine

Protein buildups like those seen around neurons in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other brain diseases occur in all aging cells, a new study suggests. Learning their significance may reveal new strategies for treating age-related diseases.

www.quantamagazine.org

 

[GaryE]

If people are interested (and this article was interesting) the killie in question is Nothobranchius furzeri. Nothobranchius are generally savannah fish from temporary bodies of water in east Africa. Their eggs lie waiting in the wet mud, under a layer of dried mud, and hatch when the rains come. From then on they are in a 2 sided race - first, with the impending dry season, and second, with slower growing predatory insects that hatch with them. They grow and become sexually mature very very quickly. Furzeri is the king of quick growth, quick decline.

The myth that all killies have short lives comes from these pretty little fish. I prefer my rainforest Aphyosemions, from permanent water bodies and with longer lives as a result. I recently bought some Nothobranchius eggs again, just to see the process for a couple of generations. It's something every curious aquarist should try. They're fascinating creatures.