There are 21 orthologs and homologs for this gene going back to zebra fish.

"This fish is the same as any other zebra fish aside from the brilliant color," he said.

The reasoning behind her decision to take up zebra fish was compelling.

But zebra fish grow in eggs outside the mother's body, where they can be observed without the need for continual slaughter.

Most worrisome, there is always the chance that the zebra fish is just a passing whimsy.

The beauty of the zebra fish, she said, is that such single-cell transplants can be done.

The zebra fish will regrow fins, scales, spinal cord and part of its heart.

Chickens have 9, while zebra fish have none.

At this, Rebecca excuses herself and ducks behind a tank of zebra fish to laugh.

It is well conserved in primates, rodents, zebra fish.