An Antarctic
fish, known as the Rock or Antarctic Cod, could provide clues to
major medical advances.
Researchers from the UK’s University of Birmingham and the
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are investigating the behaviour and
physiology of the 'Antarctic Cod' (Notothenia coriiceps)
which became isolated from its warmer water cousins around 30
million years ago when the Antarctic circumpolar current was
formed.
The olive-coloured fish is capable of maintaining a very low
heart rate of less than 10 beats per minute, and it’s this
control over its cardiovascular system that is of particular
interest to scientists.
Controlling heart rate in human hearts would be extremely
advantageous in medical terms - especially relating to the problems
experienced by human hearts when made to beat slowly, such as
during surgery involving heart-lung bypass, or fail to beat fast
enough, possibly as a result of hypothermia in water or exposure on
a mountain.
An Antarctic
fish, known as the Rock or Antarctic Cod, could provide clues to
major medical advances.