Production of androgenetic haploids in zebrafish with ultraviolet light.

We describe a simple method for producing androgenetic haploid embryos in zebrafish. Mature eggs are expressed, and the maternal genome is inactivated by irradiation with short-wave ultraviolet light prior to in vitro fertilization. We demonstrate the absence of maternal genome in the resultant embryos using assays based on morphology and polymerase chain reaction. This technique for the production of androgenetic haploids will be extremely useful for identifying and recovering mutations as a complement to, or in place of, generating gynogenetic haploids.