GLOW IN THE DARK ANIMALS
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is the solution to the marketing era, whether it’s selling
agricultural plants or fresh product. The future now has the ability to genetically engineer with DNA
from viruses, bacteria or other animals and plants. They have altered the genomes of plants and animals
for years using traditional breeding techniques. These techniques have allowed for the introduction of
their new traits. For example, crops can grow faster than their normal process and can grow in
conditions that they cannot. Now we can have the desire to choose varieties of traits we want on
different organisms, extending from venomous cabbages to designer babies. But I want to focus on a
specific area that I find very bizarre, glow in the dark animals.
The newest research had shown that the “Team from South China Agricultural University were able to
generate 10 pigs that glows green under black fluorescent lights, thanks to a technique developed by
the University of Hawaii of Medicine” said the shm.com . This is achieved by injecting fluorescent
jellyfish’s DNA into the pig’s embryos, thus creating the green glowing pigs. The result was three pigs
that glowed green inside and out, including their internal organs. Scientists said the pigs would be used
in stem cell research and the study of human diseases. Bioluminescence, the ability to produce light, is a
common feature among many marine animals, and is well represented in jellyfish. Bioluminescence
does come in different colors, from blue to red. The color is based on the chemistry, the source of
energy that goes into light. This type of element is to be added inside the pigs or any type of other
animals. But how they did procedures on a cat is different how they did on the pigs, they altered the
cat’s genes so that they glow in the dark. They took skin cells from one type of female cat and used a
virus to insert the genetic instructions for making red fluorescent protein. Then they put the genealtered nuclei into eggs for cloning, in the cat’s uterus where it could gestate and eventually be
delivered. The cloned embryos were implanted back into the donor cats, which effectively become the
“replacement” mothers for their own clones. The implication is that if you can carry or pass along the
recognizable easy coding for fluorescent indicators through cloning, you could eventually prepare and
do more complex genetic coding.
The question I wanted to know was why does modern science create glow in the dark animals? While
glow in the dark animals are fascinating to look at, the true goal behind creating genetically modified
animals that glow is to show that foreign genetic material from one animal can be incorporated into an
entirely different animal. Glow in the dark animals are more than just ideas, it’s a fresh start to prove
that DNA transplants are possible, and someday it might lead to DNA transfers from animals to people
who has genetic diseases. The work of the researchers who create glow in the dark pigs and other
animals today may lead to inexpensive, more efficient medicines in the future. Imagine if scientists
could separate, isolate the gene that causes cancer and remove it before that disease starts to have the
chance to develop. On the other side, what if scientists could insert a genetic code into a person’s DNA
that would cure them permanently? The possibilities are definitely endless, but it will take additional
research and experimentation to make these methods come to reality and stabilized. Glowing animals
might just further those goals
There are also negatives within the experiment; animals are being used as test subjects for this
according to the methods that there are only 3 out of 5 animals survive after the trial, they suffered
from medical problems and some die. Scientists denied and said it wasn’t due to genetic manipulation,
but was it? I’m just concerned that the animals were used in experimentation that is designed to help
humans. Animal testing for the benefit of humans is nothing new, but manipulating the animal’s genes is
unsafe and not necessary. It’s not normal changing nature.
In conclusion, glow in the dark animals still remain positive even though it damages the animal’s nature.
The ability to engineer animals with fluorescent proteins will enable them to artificially create animals
with human genetic diseases. For my personal opinion, I think it’s a good way to identify new sicknesses
and focus on human diseases. Thus, these pigs and others can serve as useful animal models for learning
more about HIV. For science factors, I chose Environmental issues. There are many questions related to
the environmental impact of glow in the dark species. For example, how do we dispose of the cat’s
feces? How do we get rid of (dispose) of the glow in the dark animals after they die? Does glow in the
dark animal’s body or type harm the environment? These questions would help us know if these animals
would have any impact on our environment. Although we want to find cures and medicine, we should
not be harming our environment in the process.
Works Cited
Apple, Lauri. "Scientists Produce Glow-in-the-Dark Cats." Gawker. Cosmiclog, 21 Nov. 2011.
Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Barber, Elizabeth. "Bunnies Glow Green in the Dark, Join Lots of Other Glowing Animals." The
Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Feb.
2014.
Hansen, Lauren. "7 Genetically Modified Animals That Glow in the Dark - The Week." The
Week. The Week, 30 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Mother Nature Network. "12 Bizarre Examples of Genetic Engineering." Mnm.com. Mother
Nature Network, 7 Jan. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.
Sohmer, Slade. "Glow In The Dark Pigs." HyperVocal. Hypervocal, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 21 Feb.
2014.