Electric Eels Have a Special Genome That Allows Them To Produce Electricity, Researchers Find

Electric eels are known for their ability to generate powerful electric shocks that can stun their prey and deter predators.

But did you know that they can also help scientists create genetically modified fish? A recent study has shown that electric organ discharge from electric eels can facilitate DNA transformation into teleost larvae in laboratory conditions.

This means that electric eels can be used as a tool to introduce foreign genes into fish embryos, which could have applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and conservation.

Electric Organ Discharge and DNA Transformation

(Photo : BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)

Electric organ discharge (EOD) is the phenomenon of producing electric pulses from specialized cells called electrocytes.

Electric eels have three pairs of electric organs that can generate different types of EODs: low-voltage EODs for electrolocation and communication, middle-voltage EODs for navigation and hunting, and high-voltage EODs for predation and defense.

DNA transformation is the process of introducing foreign DNA into a cell, which can result in the expression of new traits or functions. DNA transformation can be achieved by various methods, such as microinjection, electroporation, biolistics, or viral vectors.

However, these methods are often inefficient, expensive, or harmful to the cells.

A team of researchers from China and Japan has discovered that EOD from electric eels can be used to facilitate DNA transformation into teleost larvae, which are the early developmental stages of bony fish.

Teleosts are the largest and most diverse group of fish, comprising about 96% of all living fish species. The researchers used a plasmid DNA that encoded a fluorescent protein as a marker to monitor the transformation efficiency.

They exposed the teleost larvae to EOD from electric eels and observed the fluorescence under a microscope.

They found that the EOD increased the transformation efficiency by 10 to 100 times compared to the control group, and that the transformed cells were distributed throughout the body of the larvae.

Also Read: The Fascinating Life of Eels, Which Breed Only During Their Last Year of Life

Potential Applications and Implications

The researchers suggested that EOD from electric eels can be used as a simple, fast, and low-cost method to create genetically modified fish.

They also proposed that EOD can be used to deliver other types of molecules, such as drugs, hormones, or antibodies, into fish cells. This could have applications in aquaculture, biotechnology, and conservation.

For example, EOD could be used to introduce genes that enhance the growth, disease resistance, or nutritional value of fish for aquaculture.

It could also be used to create transgenic fish that produce valuable proteins, such as insulin, antibodies, or vaccines, for biotechnology. Moreover, it could be used to create genetically modified fish that can help restore endangered or extinct species, such as salmon, sturgeon, or coelacanth, for conservation.

However, the use of EOD from electric eels to create genetically modified fish also raises some ethical and environmental concerns. For instance, EOD could cause stress, injury, or death to the electric eels or the teleost larvae.

EOD could also introduce unwanted or harmful genes into the fish genome, which could affect their health, behavior, or ecology, and could lead to the escape or release of genetically modified fish into the wild, which could pose risks to the natural biodiversity and ecosystems.

Therefore, the researchers called for more studies to evaluate the safety, efficiency, and feasibility of using EOD from electric eels to create genetically modified fish.

They also urged for the development of ethical and regulatory guidelines to ensure the responsible and sustainable use of this novel technique.

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