Researchers at Nagoya University have discovered that electric eels, which can generate up to 860 volts, can induce genetic modification in nearby organisms through a process similar to electroporation. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Discovery that electric eels can naturally change the genetics of nearby organisms Nagoya University Researchers emphasize the role of natural electricity in genetic changes.
Electric eels are the largest electricity producing creatures on earth. It can emit up to 860 volts, which is enough to operate the machine. In a recent study, a research group at Japan’s Nagoya University found that electric eels can emit enough electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae.They published their research results in a scientific journal PeerJ – Life and Environment.
Understanding electroporation in nature
The researchers’ findings add to our knowledge of the gene transfer technique electroporation. Electroporation uses an electric field to create temporary pores in cell membranes. This makes the molecule look like this: DNA or the protein enters the target cell.
![Electric eel uses electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Electric-Eels-Genetically-Modify-Small-Fish-Larvae-With-Electricity-777x437.jpg)
Researchers have discovered that the electric eel, the largest power-generating creature on Earth, can emit enough electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae.Credit: Shintaro Sakaki
The research group consists of Professor Eiichi Hondo and Assistant Professor Atsuo Iida of Nagoya University. They wondered if electricity passing through the river would affect the cells of nearby organisms. Cells can import DNA fragments, known as environmental DNA, into the water. To test this, they exposed a young fish in the lab to a DNA solution with markers that glowed in the light to see if the zebrafish had taken up her DNA. Therefore, electric eels were introduced and bit the feeder, causing an electrical discharge.
Electric eel: a natural agent of genetic change
Iida said electroporation is generally thought of as a process that only takes place in the lab, but he wasn’t convinced. “I thought electroporation might occur in nature,” he said. “We realized that the electric eel in the Amazon River becomes a power source, and the organisms living around it become host cells, and the environmental DNA fragments released into the water can become foreign genes and cause genetic modification in surrounding organisms. ” due to electrical discharge. ”
![Modified DNA of zebrafish larvae](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Zebrafish-Larvae-Modified-DNA-777x776.jpg)
The DNA of zebrafish larvae is modified by electricity from the eel (shown in green). (The zebrafish and highlighted GFP images are overlaid).Credit: Shintaro Sakaki
The researchers found that 5% of the larvae had markers indicative of transgenicity. “This means that compared to machines typically used in electroporation, electric eels have different pulse shapes and although the voltage is unstable, the electrical discharge from electric eels facilitates gene transfer into cells. “This shows that we did so,” Professor Iida said. “Electric eels and other organisms that generate electricity can influence genetic modification in nature.”
Other studies have observed similar phenomena occurring in naturally occurring fields, such as lightning, and affecting nematodes and soil bacteria. Dr. Iida is very excited about the possibilities of studying electric fields in living organisms. He believes these effects go beyond conventional understanding. “I believe that attempts to discover new life phenomena based on such “unexpected” and “unconventional” ideas will enlighten the world about the complexity of living things and serve as a catalyst for future breakthroughs. .”
The zebrafish larvae and DNA solution were placed in a small container inside an aquarium where the electric eel generated electrical pulses when the experimenter fed it.Credit: Shintaro Sakaki
Reference: “Electrical organ discharge from electric eel promotes DNA transformation into teleost larvae in laboratory conditions”, Shintaro Sakaki1, Reo Ito1, Hideki Abe1, Masato Kinoshita2, Eiichi Hondo1, Atsuo Iida, December 4, 2023, PeerJ – Life and Environment.
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16596