The first genetically modified squids are born transparent after scientists ‘remove’ the embryo pigmentation gene that controls the color of eye and skin cells
- Scientists have genetically modified a squid embryo for the first time in history
- The team pigments genes in a Doryteuthis pealeii, making it transparent
- This will allow researchers to study the creature’s unique system.
For the first time in history, scientists have genetically altered squid embryos by deleting a pigmentation gene that resulted in transparent creatures.
The team used CRISPR-Cas9 to ‘kill’ the gene in a Doryteuthis pealeii and, in turn, killed eye coloration and skin cells.
The procedure consisted of cutting the hard outer layer of the egg with micro-scissors and administering the reagents inside the embryo.
Cephalopods, which include squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, have been a mystery to researchers, as their nervous systems are capable of camouflaging themselves, but the advance should “address a series of biological questions.”
For the first time in history, scientists have genetically altered squid embryos by deleting a pigmentation gene that resulted in transparent creatures. The team used CRISPR-Cas9 to ‘remove’ the pigmentation genes in a Doryteuthis pealeii and, in turn, removed eye color and skin cells.
Cephalopods have the largest brain of all invertebrates, a nervous system that is capable of camouflaging itself, and the special ability to recode their own genetic information into their messenger RNA, and of course, they all have rare and interesting characteristics.
Scientists have long tried to uncover the secrets of these creatures, but have failed due to their inability to look inside their structures, until now.
Joshua Rosenthal, a researcher at the University of Chicago-affiliated Marine Biology Laboratory, told NPR: “They have developed these great brains and this behavioral sophistication completely independently.”
“This provides an opportunity to compare them with us and see what elements are common and what elements are unique.”
Cephalopods, which include squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, have been a mystery to researchers, as their nervous systems are capable of camouflaging themselves, but the advance should ‘address a series of biological questions.’
Rosenthal and his team began their journey by first delivering the CRISPR-Cas system to the single-celled embryo.
However, they did encounter the first challenge as it is surrounded by a tough layer that protects the embryo until it is ready to hatch.
The team designed a special pair of micro-scissors to trim the surface of the egg and used a quartz needle to administer the CRISPR-Cas9 reagents.
Genetically modified squids, which resemble out-of-this-world creatures, were born fully transparent with clear, sparkling eyes.
The scientist shared a separate preview earlier this year with the mysterious giant squid.
Scientists published the complete genome sequence in January of the giant squid, which seems to hint at the creature’s high intelligence.
An international research team found that its genes closely resemble other animals, with a genome size not much less than that of humans.
The squid, Architeuthius dux, has eyes as big as saucers and tentacles that snatch prey 10 yards away.
Its average length is around 33 feet, about the size of an average-size school bus.
The photo shows unaltered, adult Doryteuthis pealeii, often called Woods Hole squid.
But these legendary creatures are notoriously elusive and sightings are rare, making them difficult to study.
Now, an international team of researchers has fully mapped the genome of the species to answer key evolutionary questions.
They discovered that the giant squid genome has an estimated 2.7 billion base pairs of DNA, the chemical compounds connected on opposite sides of the DNA strands.
This is about 90 percent the size of the human genome – we have about 3 billion.
While genome size does not necessarily equate to intelligence, it may hint at characteristics like cell division rate, body size, rate of development, and even extinction risk.
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