[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[Killietalk] GLOFISH
I've gotten a large number of e-mails from colleagues, students, and
fish hobbyists about the "Glofish," the genetically modified zebra
danio that glows with a fluorescent reddish or greenish light. I have
a pdf file of the article by Jonathan Knight in the 11/27 issue of
Nature on this creation, including a good jpeg of the fish
themselves. Anyone who wants either the article or the jpeg is
welcome to drop me an e-mail. I can't distribute them through these
lists as an attached document.
The Glofish has generated much contorversy and its sale is now banned
in California. Several European nations are quite likely to
follow. Frankly, I'm having a little difficulty seeing what the fuss
is about. There is no evidence that the zebra danio can overwinter in
any part of the country except perhaps southern Florida. Moreover,
the Glofish variety is more delicate than the wildtype and probably
would be outcompeted even if it were released. Sometimes, I think,
there is a thin line between being responsibly conservative and being
a Luddite. I admit that I don't know where that line is in this
particular case, but I don't see a big threat.
--
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Bruce J. Turner
Dept. Biology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0406
(540)-231-7444 (V)
(540)-231-9307 (F)
fishgen at vt_edu
http://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/turner/
Rivulus marmoratus webpage: http://www.bsi.vt.edu/rivmar/
R.R.Miller Pupfish Symposium webpage:
http://www.biol.vt.edu/faculty/turner/symposium/
*******************************************************************************************************************************
To join the AKA see http://www.aka.org/pages/join.html