Institute for Molecular Life Sciences

The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center is now the Texas State University Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (IMLS). Although the name has changed, we remain dedicated to serving the research community as we have done for the past 32 years. The IMLS will now not only stock and preserve Xiphophorus, but we are expanding to include additional biomedical models. Our mission to serve the community as the leading Xiphophorus resource center will not change, and we are still available to answer any husbandry, bioinformatic, genome, or other research related questions that you might have.

Dedicated research resource for the Poeciliid fish genus Xiphophorus

Faculty and Staff

The Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center currently houses 24 of 26 species of the freshwater genus Xiphophorus. In their natural environment, these fishes live in drainages in eastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras, with most of the described species living in Mexico. The taxa make up three groups: the Northern Swordtails, the Southern Swordtails, and the Platyfish.

The purpose of this site is to provide information to both the research community and the general public about the Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center. As a national resource for research animals, we welcome opportunities to share fish with the research community for further research, development, and application.