Why do we need fluorescent animals?
Glowing in the dark
Top 5 Phosphorescent animals,
which scientists have created for experiments for the benefit of mankindPeter Skorobogaty, "Expert Online"
However, for the widespread introduction of genetically modified products into ordinary human life, neither plebiscites, nor UN decisions, nor supranational studies were required. About a thousand transgenic crops have been bred in the world, of which only one hundred are allowed for industrial production. These are tomatoes, soybeans, corn, rice, wheat, peanuts, potatoes.
In recent years, scientists have also reached animals. The first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, remained far away in 1996. To date, scientists are quite simply breeding new species of cats, dogs, frogs, pigs, and so on. These non-God creatures do not always spend their entire lives in laboratory dungeons. So, a survey in the scientific environment of Russia this year showed that domestic scientists consider genetically modified mice or fish to be the best gift for February 23 and March 8.
A new technological feature of genetic engineering is glowing animals. I must say that the addition of a fluorescent protein gene to DNA is dictated by scientific objectives, and not at all by advertising, aesthetics or business strategy. At least, this is how scientists from the USA and Japan Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfi and Roger Qian conceived in the early 90s. They laid the foundation for the use of fluorescent protein to study physiological processes at the cellular and organismal levels, as well as gene expression. For which they deservedly received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.
To put it simply, the "glowing" gene allows you to make the secret explicit. In medical and biochemical research, it has become easier to track the processes and condition of highlighted cells or substances. By introducing a gene of a luminous protein into a cell together with some other gene, it is possible to monitor where and with what intensity the embedded genes are expressed (that is, they ensure the synthesis of their corresponding proteins). The green fluorescent protein allowed scientists to observe many hidden processes and structures, for example, the growth and nature of neuronal connections, as well as the spread of cancer cells in the organisms of laboratory animals.
Brain cells of a laboratory mouse, glowing in different colors due to the chromosomes embedded in them in different combinations
fluorescent proteins of three different colors obtained on the basis of green fluorescent proteinNext to your attention – the top 5 of the "brightest" animals created by scientists
1. The world–famous glowing fish Glofish (from English glow – "radiate" and fish - "fish") originally served exclusively scientific purposes.
In the mid-90s, they became, one might say, a by-product of larger-scale research. Professor Zhian Gong studied the processes of genetic modification of commercial fish, in particular salmon. At the same time, as a model object for transplanting the genes of jellyfish and anemone, he used a small danio rerio, or in English literature – Zebrafish. These fish are undemanding to habitat conditions and to feed, so for many scientists they serve as a fish analog of a laboratory white mouse.
Transgenic danios were also liked by other researchers. As a result, they were used to observe the development of internal organs. And also in the works on embryology. In particular, the sequence of development in the ontogenesis of various muscles was clarified. In the USA, they tried to create live pollution indicators from glowing danios – if there were toxic substances in the water, the fish had to change color. However, they did it extremely non-operatively.
As a result, the Americans bought the transgenic technology from Dr. Gong. However, an attempt to bring genetically modified Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to the food market was not successful, the authorities did not give the go-ahead. But the decorative glowing Glofish, with embedded protein genes of all colors of the rainbow, have become a major business success. First in Taiwan in 2003, and then in the States. However, they are banned in the European Union and Canada. In Russia, it is quite easy to buy this innovation.
By the way, entrepreneurial enthusiasm did not stop on some fish. In the USA, in some Japanese restaurants, you can try glowing sushi – from those same Glofish. And here are the instructions for cooking.
2. Quite often recently, glowing cats have also been born. American biologists, for example, studied genetic resistance to the immunodeficiency virus in this way. They introduced into the genome of cats the gene of rhesus monkeys TRIMcyp, which provides such protection. And the fluorescent GFP gene was used as an indicator of the success of the "transplant".
As a result, three healthy kittens were born – two boys and a girl. The body and coat of the animals glowed green when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and the gene for resistance to the immunodeficiency virus was present in the genome of each creature. The experiment was deemed successful.
The genomes of humans and cats coincide by about 90%. At the same time, both species suffer from related variants of the immunodeficiency virus. Scientists believe that about 2.5-4.5% of domestic cats are infected with this virus. However, they rarely die from feline AIDS. Experiments have shown that cats have innate immunity to HIV, and humans to the feline immunodeficiency virus. It would be nice to make an exchange.
Probably, to make life easier for such bright cats, a special glowing mouse was created for them.
3. Bright green pigs are also actively preparing to save humanity. In the advanced countries of Asia, there is a fashion for such luminescent animals. Here in Taiwan recently managed to get three transgenic boars. Local scientists are especially proud of the pets, because they are still the only ones in the world that glow not partially, but completely, even from the inside.
It is no secret that genetically modified pigs are considered from the point of view of their use in xenotransplantology. Animal tissues and organs can theoretically be suitable for human transplantation. With the help of a fluorescent gene, researchers study the processes of tissue and organ changes during the physical development of artiodactyls.
Xenotransplantation, or interspecific transplantation, is the transplantation of organs and tissues from an animal to another biological species. Usually, pigs or higher primates closest to humans are considered immunologically as experimental subjects.
Until quite recently, xenotransplantation was considered in principle impossible and impracticable. However, science is moving forward, and now questions of a moral and ethical nature are coming to the fore in this matter.
4. Speaking of primates. Japanese scientists managed to get healthy offspring from transgenic monkeys. At the same time, the cubs also inherited an alien gene, namely our desired gene for the green fluorescent protein GFP. As a result, two genetically modified little monkeys, Ki and Kou, were born. They, like their father, have paws that glow green in ultraviolet.
That is, Japanese scientists have proved that artificially implanted genes are passed on to the next generation. However, later the percentage of the overall success of the experiment was not so high. The researchers transplanted 80 embryos to 50 monkeys, achieved only seven pregnancies and the birth of five healthy cubs.
However, we can already talk about a sensation. After all, tests on primates are the penultimate stage of the introduction of technology into the human body.
5. Genetic engineering has reached Latin America. On April 24, 2013, Uruguayan scientists announced the birth of phosphorescent genetically modified sheep. This is the first such experiment on the continent, and scientists have not set any other goals. It was important to just get a healthy green sheep.
However, in the future, scientists set more ambitious goals. They plan to experiment with another gene responsible for the production of protein, which is absent in humans with certain pathologies such as diabetes. Probably, a new modification of sheep will be able to produce the necessary protein in their milk. It is only important that the unfortunate animal does not have a psychological trauma after all the manipulations of scientists. Otherwise, no milk.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru29.04.2013