FishNet

This chapter describes the major features of the website FishNet, which is an interactive database for zebrafish development. It discusses the pros and cons of each of the digital and print versions. The greatest advantage of the print version is its portable nature, allowing its use in the laboratory or aquarium where access to the Internet resource may not be possible or appropriate, and it is often easier to evaluate images in high-quality prints instead of display technology. However, the website has an edge over the print resource because the complete stage series and all sections within each sample embryo can be accessed through the website. The interactive nature of the website also allows the virtual sectioning of the 3D models at any of the represented stages and to zoom in and out to different image magnifications. It is also possible to view volume or surface renderings of the complete sample that may be manipulated on screen, which are particularly useful for mental conceptualization of anatomical morphology. The benefit of the dynamic nature of the website is the possibility for information to be easily updated, which allows both for addition of further annotations and any modification where necessary. Thus, the delivery of an anatomical resource via the Internet holds a number of advantages over a traditional, printed version.