Developmental biologists are to receive a boost as the European Resource Centre for Xenopus opens in April with £1.5 million funding from the Wellcome Trust. The Centre, to be based at the University of Portsmouth, will be the world's largest outside Japan and will launch with a conference for European Xenopus users.

Xenopus laevis (above) and X. tropicalis, the African clawed frogs, are popular model organisms for studies of how vertebrates develop and cells replicate. They have particularly large and well-described oocytes and embryos. Although genetic studies are difficult with X. laevis, X. tropicalis is emerging as a valuable alternative (see Hop to it).

According to Dr Matt Guille, who will head the Centre, there is a real need for a central repository for Xenopus frogs. There is currently no major centre in Europe, which means that it can be difficult for researchers to obtain embryo lines.

Wellcome Trust funding will allow the Centre to breed and supply both genetically altered and wild-type animals for users in the UK and Europe at a subsidised rate. Developmental biologists will be able to obtain Xenopus lines more efficiently, ensuring that the number of embryos stored and Xenopus bred is kept to a minimum, in line with the principle of '3Rs' – reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in scientific and medical research.