A few days back I talked about Genetically Modifed food and how its gonna be the norm soon. Incidentally here I am today, writing about the world's first genetically modified animal specifically engineered for sale as a pet. GloFish (TM) is it's name. The GloFish (TM) is a genetically modifed Zebra fish with a neon fluorescence. An original zebra fish has black and white stripes and is a native of India.
Originally scientists in Singapore had engineered this fish for tracking pollution levels in water [so says the GloFish(TM) website]. The fish would show fluorescence only in polluted water. Though this latter part has yet to be implemented. A taiwanese company saw the commercial potential behind this fish and started marketing them in Taiwan. Now they are available in the US for $5.00 a piece.
The ethical and safety aspects of this will no doubt be discussed for a long time. California has already banned the sale/possession of GloFish(TM). The company vhemently denies that the fish pose any hazard to the environment as such or to humans (As they are not meant for ingestion).
Anyways, as I always say - we just wait and watch - see whether the amriki junta latches on to a new fad. Kids would love them - no doubt, and they are decently priced.
While we are still on fish .. have you seen Finding Nemo? I liked it. In fact watched it twice. In the movie the fish in the aquarium talk about escaping thru a drain / toilet .. After the movie was released there were numerous incidences of kids flushing their fish down the toilet so that they could 'escape'.
Posted by anya at February 2, 2004 04:56 PM | TrackBackHow about adding the fluroscence gene to humans? and then we can have that switch which will make humans glow after certain things..may be when they lie/goof up or something of that sort!
haha..anya adding anything in > does not show up in comments!!
Posted by: Narya at February 2, 2004 11:39 PManything in '' is not displayed!
when u clear ur cache..this system does not remember the name and email!
obviously - the info is 'remembered' on ur sys in a cookie .. when u clear the cache - the cookie is deleted
Posted by: aNYa at February 3, 2004 01:38 PMGenetic Engineering... just for aquarium fish? What's wrong with Neon Tetras?
Posted by: Amol Hatwar at February 16, 2004 01:18 AMNeon Tetras do shine, but they don't 'glow' i.e. they dont exhibit fluroscence.
Posted by: aNYa at February 16, 2004 06:45 PMHi, first time surfing a blog and wanted to say hello
Posted by: Jenn C at November 9, 2004 03:11 PM