UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful and versatile platform for preclinical research due to their remarkable genetic similarity to humans, rapid development, and amenability to genetic and pharmacological manipulation. This freshwater vertebrate model offers unique advantages including transparent embryos, high fecundity, and conserved physiological pathways, which facilitate In vivo visualization and high-throughput screening. Zebrafish have been extensively employed in investigating diverse biomedical fields such as developmental biology, toxicology, pharmacology, and disease modeling. Their use in studying cardiotoxicity, lipid metabolism disorders, tumorigenesis, renal pathologies, and muscular dystrophies has provided critical insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, zebrafish serve as an effective tool for drug discovery and preclinical evaluation of novel pharmacological agents, enabling rapid assessment of efficacy and safety profiles. The ethical benefits, cost-effectiveness, and experimental versatility of zebrafish underscore their growing importance in translational research. This comprehensive review discusses the multifaceted applications of zebrafish in preclinical studies, highlighting their contribution to advancing precision medicine and accelerating drug development pipelines.