Scottish scientists, working at the University of Edinburgh, have discovered that the tiny tropical zebrafish may hold the cure to motor neurone disease and some forms of paralysis. Well-known from their appearances in Dentists' waiting rooms, the tiny transparent fish is able to produce new motor neurone in their spinal cords from the help of 'progenitor cells'. These cells are natural stem cells that occur in the fish and are motivated by small molecules currently being screened by the scientists. If these molecules can be identified it is suggested that drugs containing their replication can help to restore motor neurones in people diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease or people with certain types of paralysis.
