Its Not Just Danios That Glow In The Dark

[Teelie]

If you don't like them, don't buy them. Unlike dyed fish, no harm is actually coming to these. Some people get too high and mighty when it comes to fish and anything about them.

 

[anvil63]

I agree with everyone that I would never buy them, but that's because they look STUPID in a tank. They were originally developed for use in environmental studies. IF you release them in an area it is easy to find out where they go and how many survive (like tagging animals to small to be tagged). After scientists started using this some really smart person realized that a lot of the morons out there would like their aquariums to look like the Vegas strip when the lights are out. Its stupid but not even comparable to dyed fish or possibly some of the hybrids as these fish with jellyfish DNA added can live normally and swim normally especially in an aquarium with no predation.

Carl

 

[lljdma06]

they are doing it to medakas too
http/3kingdom.tripod.com/tra1pg1.html

on a personal note, I really can't believe that one of the
worlds formost ichtyologists is involved in this matter.
Fang Fang has lost some of my respect.

Wolf, that's like a bad StarTrek dream. I feel the sudden urge to drink Romulan ale when I look at those fish.

I don't think me poor eyes could handle the strain from looking at those fish. Those are some funky colors.

 

[newfishaddict]

I know they've used jellyfish genes in piglets and they're snouts were then permanently pink or yellow! It is stupid the way we play with genes what is the point in it surely we should be happy with the genetics that we have and same with the animals on the planet! If the fish were meant to glow in the dark then they would have developed the gene to do it naturally but at the end of the day they arent so we shouldnt mess with things!

I hope it back fires on the people that carry this sort of research it would teach them to mess with something else

I think what is being done with these fish is horrible, I agree. To create a new "species" for pleasure is very nasty, immoral, terrible, and I am not surprised that some crack pot scientists did this...

But not all scientists are like this. We can use genetics responsibly, for example to alter plants that can grow with little water but supply high nutrient value to help feed the hungry of the world. I feel this cause is worth any minor risks that are brought up....

Plus, genetic engineering does happen naturally, for those of you who think that unnatural=bad or vice verca...the nitrogen reducing flavobacterium actually adds its own genes to a host legume plant’s genome. After the plants genome is altered, a suitable environment for the bacterium to survive within the plants roots is created. This is an example of natural genetic engineering by the bacteria.

 

[stargirly1208]

dude i totally did the same thing in my biology class with a jellyfish egg... it was so cool! and doesn't harm them at all just makes them look nice. i wouldn't mind having a fish like that. it's just like painted tetras

 

[Dorkhedeos]

well, these fish were used to test water for pollutants werent they? i dont see whats wrong with that. i dont really care about this as long as the animals dont have to suffer during the process. in the US, there is GE everywhere. everything i eat is probably genetically engineered, but nobody cares about this stuff around here. it would be kind of neat to have some fish that would change colors if something happened to the water in your tank wouldnt it?

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

well, these fish were used to test water for pollutants werent they? i dont see whats wrong with that. i dont really care about this as long as the animals dont have to suffer during the process. in the US, there is GE everywhere. everything i eat is probably genetically engineered, but nobody cares about this stuff around here. it would be kind of neat to have some fish that would change colors if something happened to the water in your tank wouldnt it?

Swimming test kits.

 

[Synirr]

i wouldn't mind having a fish like that. it's just like painted tetras

It's better than that, since these fish don't have to suffer the cruel dyeing process!

Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I think this is the same thing that has been happening for decades; people spy a new up and coming science, and freak out with the whole "we're playing God" thing in an effort to resist change. We humans have been modifying genes for years through the process of selective breeding, it's just that now we have the technology to do it more directly and without having to wait for new traits to spontaneously arise. Christ, we already have metallic bettas, and we created those without direct genetic manipulaton!

We've been creating new species for generations. Get over it. It's unnatural and has the potential to do some real damage to the environment, yes, but the exact same thing applies to every domesticated animal out there. If there's any danger in this, the danger is already here and has been for hundreds of years. This is nothing new.

 

[Ben]

It's not so much the gene changing thing im annoyed about, its more there is really no need to change the colour of an animal, i honestly do not see the point, all i see is the Paris Hilton's of the world have unfiltered and unheated 5 gallons with 20 of these fish in it because it goes with the colour of their room or their shoes....

 

[andywg]

On an ethical level I see little wrong with this. The process will be very similar (i would assume) to that used on the danios previously. It causes no pain to the fish in question.

I would be interested to see the long term effects and die-off rates.

On another level, this importing of one species' gene to another has the potential to be very useful. Suppose we find an organism that is fully resilient to a version of cancer, or even HIV/AIDS? Through research such as this we are getting a grounding in the knowledge of "grafting" genes. How much will cross over is unsure, but it will no doubt be of some use.