Genetically Engineered Glowing Tadpoles Detect Pollution A new environmental monitoring system. Tadpoles have been genetically engineered to express a protein that lights up like a fairground in the presence of pollutants.
Researchers in France and a University of Wyoming professor have developed an innovative application of the technology by genetically engineering tadpoles to monitor heavy metal pollution in water. The system offers a way of rapidly detecting the physiological effects of environmental pollutants and is cheaper and more convenient than traditional means.
In this new approach African clawed frog tadpoles (Xenopus laevis) are modified with jellyfish genes so that they fluoresce when exposed to toxins. They light up in response to dosages that could be harmful to a human, and can indicate the presence of several different types of chemicals at the same time. Some tadpoles have been engineered to glow in the presence of metals, and others in response to plastics.
The scientists involved in this project are already looking to future applications for their tadpole technology. They believe the genetically engineered animals could be deployed to detect toxins in food. Foodstuffs could be turned into liquid and put into the aquarium.
In addition, future genetically engineered tadpoles could fluoresce different colors depending on the pollution they encounter. This requires genes that fluoresce different colors such as some coral genes that glow red.
Read more at: http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/28/engineered-glowing-tadpoles-detect-pollution.html
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