Electric eels discovered to have the ability to induce genetic modifications in nearby organisms
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Nagoya University has revealed that electric eels, known for their ability to generate up to a staggering 860 volts of electricity, have the power to induce genetic modifications in nearby organisms. This discovery sheds light on the role of natural electricity in bringing about genetic changes in living organisms.
Published in the scientific journal PeerJ – Life and Environment, the study conducted by a research group from Nagoya University in Japan found that electric eels can release enough electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae.
The findings of the study contribute to our understanding of electroporation, a gene delivery technique that uses an electric field to create temporary pores in the cell membrane, allowing molecules such as DNA or proteins to enter the target cell.
Led by Professor Eiichi Hondo and Assistant Professor Atsuo Iida, the research group set out to explore the possibility of electroporation occurring in nature. They conducted experiments where young fish in their laboratory were exposed to a DNA solution with a glowing marker to observe if the zebrafish had taken the DNA. Subsequently, an electric eel was introduced and prompted to discharge electricity by biting a feeder, leading to the observation that 5% of the larvae had markers showing gene transfer.
Iida believes that the implications of these findings go beyond conventional wisdom. He stated, “Electric eels and other organisms that generate electricity could affect genetic modification in nature.”
This discovery has broader implications, as similar phenomena have been observed in nature with naturally occurring fields such as lightning affecting nematodes and soil bacteria. Iida is excited about the possibilities of electric field research in living organisms and believes that these unexpected discoveries will pave the way for breakthroughs in understanding the complexities of living organisms in the future.
The implications of the study are far-reaching and could have profound effects on our understanding of genetic modifications and their natural occurrence. The remarkable ability of electric eels to bring about genetic changes in nearby organisms opens up new avenues of research and has captured the attention of the scientific community.
The study, titled “Electric organ discharge from electric eel facilitates DNA transformation into teleost larvae in laboratory conditions,” was published on 4 December 2023 in the journal PeerJ – Life and Environment.