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Transgenics, while still in its infancy as a field, is nothing new at this point. We already have genetically modified corn, rice, and numerous other plants that have been altered to produce crops that are more disease resistant, more nutritious, or just about anything else the plant geneticists have been able to dream up.
Now labs are starting to branch into animals. Recently researchers in Taiwan created some pigs that are a tad – different. Using genetic material from jellyfish, the National University of Taiwan, Department of Animal Research treated 265 pig embryos, implanted them in sows, and managed to produce three live births, all male, all glowing – but not just with good health. These pigs glow green down to the cellular level. Even their internal organs glow green, which is what distinguishes them from previous green transgenic pigs. The hope of the researcher is that these pigs can breed true, leading to a reproducible line of glowing green pigs.
The pigs become somewhat less surprising when you look at the success several Asian labs have had with fish. Three years ago, in 2003, the University of Singapore produced a line of transgenic zebrafish. The zebrafish were treated with genes from sea anemones, and the result was a bright red, glowing fish. The Glofish are now an established line, and an established brand name. The fish are being marketed in the US as a novelty pet, and other colors have been created to enhance their appeal for that purpose. Researchers, however, have much broader uses in mind for their fish. It is their hope to breed versions of the Glofish whose luminescence is reactive to certain environmental chemicals – some pollutants, for example. Then it would be possible to use the Glofish as organic pollution detectors; place them in a waterway, and check whether or not they glow to determine if a particular pollutant is present.
Because of the broader applications envisioned for the Glofish, it has become somewhat more controversial than the pigs are ever likely to be. Environmentalists are concerned that released Glofish may pose a threat to wild zebrafish populations. They posit several possible scenarios. One of the most alarming has been dubbed the “Trojan Gene”. In this version, the glowing display of the transgenic fish would render them irresistible as mates, thereby causing a large-scale mixing of the wild and transgenic populations. However, the glow could also make them an easy mark for predators. The combination would result in a crash in the zebrafish population as the first mixed generation became easy prey. The “Trojan Gene” is one of several posited hypotheses of the effect of released Glofish, there are several others with results ranging from nominal to devastating. Regardless of which set of hypotheses prove to be true, it will be take a lot of research and testing before any country is likely to allow the fish to be used in an uncontrolled environment.
Whatever the obstacles to their use in the wild, the idea of organic detectors is an intriguing one that is unlikely to go away, even if environmental concerns keep them in the lab. Using transgenic animals in this way could allow detection or tracking of effects that would normally require an animal be biopsied or sacrificed to allow close study. The line of green pigs, once established, is destined for use in stem cell research. A glowing green stem-cell culture could be tracked visually as it grew and interacted with a host animal, no biopsies needed. Glofish, if the researchers manage to make them pollutant specific, could be used to study toxin uptake, as the transparency of small fish would make it possible to watch the various sections of the fish start to glow.
It doesn’t take much imagination to see a future with animals that can be modified in almost any way desired. Technicolor sheep may one day be a common sight. Whether this is a direction we wish to travel is something yet to be seen. What happens in the next few years with the transgenic animals we have now could easily set the direction we follow for years, or decades, to come.
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These Glofish, they’re fresh water and friendly right? I’m wondering if I can add any to my aquarium…
You have to admit, they would be rather cool :-)
Damn Interesting stuff, and good article, as usual :-)
Hmm, I’m trying to imagine the ad campaigns for glowing pigs. “Glork, the other glowing green meat.” “New, Flouro-swine!” And, of course, the inevetable rewrite: I will not eat green eggs and glowing ham. I will not eat them, Samsan I am!!
Sounds incredibly evil, yet useful. Hmmm… the pros and cons… we’d probably submit to evil.
Glofish have recently been approved by the FDA and several states for sale (I know CA just allowed them, I’m not certain about others). They are supposed to have the same characteristics as normal zebrafish as far as conditions and temperment.
Marius – you have no idea how hard I was resisting the green eggs and ham references while writing this!
wow neat !
i want a miniature elephant, who is making one these days ?
indra c said: “wow neat !
i want a miniature elephant, who is making one these days ?”
If memory serves, there is a Dr. Moreau on an island somewhere making those. I think you have to order them on line. ;-)
This reminds me of the time Heinz started making green ketchup. It was a flop. :|
Glowing pigs huh? That sounds a bit scary
Iscariot said: “Sounds incredibly evil, yet useful. Hmmm… the pros and cons… we’d probably submit to evil.”
I do not see how this could be considered evil.
Cynthia, I’m pretty sure this is fluorescence, not luminescence. The pigs and fish only glow under a blacklight.
A few years ago, a French artist commissioned a transgenic flourescent green rabbit, doubtless the same gene. It didn’t seem to make much of a stir, although some were really upset about it– it was (one of) the first uses of genetic engineering for purely artistic purposes.
I’ve heard NASA’s working on plants with “glowing” reporters to let people know if they’re thirsty or need more fertilizer. It would be handy if the plants were being cared for by remote control. Now if only they can design reporter genes for newborn humans, so you can tell if the crying means hunger, tummyache, or diaper change needed.
Nice article. Hope you don’t mind my comments.
-bjl
It’s not nice to fool with Mother Natures’ palette!
You are most likely right, Bryan. I used the term luminescent because most of the articles I was using as reference used it. I like the idea of reporter plants – if they ever came on the market my Dad might be able to grow something.
Baby humans don’t need reporter genes nearly as much as they need a volume control!
And no, I never mind comments:)
Cynthia, my dad isn’t very good at growing plants either. I’ve always found that unique and odd, but now i know he is not alone. I suppose some people just don’t have it, like others just can’t handle dogs and oh so many just can’t drive.
I would love a house hippo. Has anyone else seen the commercial?
Dr. Moreau is also selling men made from animals. :( Do not get those.
And the purpose of glowing green pigs in the long run is…?
I don’t really see the point…..
Am I missing something?
Wow! Glowing green pigs. That will be a top seller at fairs and carnivals for sure. I can see it now: My little girl lugging a glowing pig around her neck or spinning it through the air. Ooh, clubs and raves as well. Now that would make the ladies squeal. Ha ha this is good and damn interesting.
Imagine a human with this gene… it’d be pretty freaky.
Jitterwyser said: “Imagine a human with this gene… it’d be pretty freaky.”
Yes, you could say that. For instance in Vancouver doctors were dismayed and shocked when they inserted an arterial line into a patient and it filled with not Bright-red oxygenated Blood, but with Green Blood reminiscent of the Vulcans of Star Trek Fame.
More on that story here http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/06/08/health-green-blood.html
There was an episode of “Big Bang Theory” where Sheldon wanted to create glowing goldfish. The name of the episode was called: The Luminous Fish Effect. Also were I to take a package of pork chops out of the freezer to thaw and come into the darkened kitchen to see them glowing green. They’d probably be headed to the trash.
Those pigs must be mighty envious.
I too am curious as to the point of glowing green pigs. I understand it’s a step: if we are able to do this, we might also be able to do [fill in the blank] with [pick an animal] for [insert beneficial purpose], etc. — but beyond the novelty of a ham-flavored nite-lite or the additional ambience during the prom scene in “Carrie,” the whole thing leaves me non plussed.
On an only-slightly-related tangent:
There’s a great play by Martin McDonagh called “The Pillowman” where the main character tells a story called “The Little Green Pig.” The play isn’t as juvenile as it sounds…it’s brilliantly funny and incredibly dark.
This article just made me think of it.