Genetics is one of the sciences, whose rapid development is expected by humanity in the coming years. Now even scientists themselves do not imagine all the possibilities that DNA manipulation can open to a person, but today everyone can feel some results of many years of experiments with the genome - food, plants and pets with altered DNA are gaining popularity in the world.
Whether you are looking for such a charming mutant or a dish with unusual properties, here are some of the options that modern genetic science has to offer you.
1. Designer kids
The first "batch" of genetically modified babies was born in 2001. 30 newborns had DNA made up of genes from three parents - these babies were conceived using the method of cytoplasm transplantation, now banned by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Initially, this method was developed to fertilize eggs with a low level of fertility (that is, with a low ability to conceive), but when in one of the children, during further development, researchers discovered abnormalities in brain development that could cause autism, they forgot about such experiments.
By the way, babies with two DNAs can be born without the participation of scientists in cases, for example, microchimerism, when a certain amount of genetically alien cells is present in the body, which sometimes leads to deviations in embryonic development.
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2. Bald chickens resistant to avian flu
If you love chicken wings, then this news will certainly please you: Israeli breeders have bred a breed of chickens that do not have feathers, which allows you to negate maintenance costs and save time for plucking. At the same time, it is argued that the absence of feathers did not affect the taste in any way, and new chickens are immune from birth to bird flu.
Scientists have bred "bald" chickens, experimenting with a hairless breed. They are sure that it is more profitable to grow such "birds" than ordinary layers.
True, indefatigable researchers should not forget that nature endowed chickens with feathers not only for the sake of beauty, but for protection from insect parasites, adverse weather conditions, and also to protect the skin from claws during mating.
3. Hypoallergenic cats and dogs
If you really want to get a dog, or a cat, but allergies bother you, do not be discouraged: the company "Lifestyle Pets" offers its customers hypoallergenic pets - cats and dogs with altered DNA. Unlike their natural counterparts, modified pets do not have natural allergens (of which, by the way, cats have four, and dogs have six), so they do not in any way affect the well-being of the owners.
"Improved" pets have one major drawback: at a price of $ 6,950, few will be able to afford such a pleasure.
By the way, "Lifestyles Pets" are not pioneers in the market for genetically modified pets: earlier, scientists have invented another way to rid pets of their allergic properties. Using the so-called "genetic silence" method, the researchers were able to destroy the protein responsible for the production of allergens in cats, and if you do not want to expose your beloved pet to this painful procedure, do not forget to take anti-allergy medications when playing with him.
4. Tilapia
One of the world's most popular commercially reared fish, genetics have improved to make tilapia more unpretentious and make individuals gain weight faster - a fairly common practice in modern fish and meat industry. But there is one feature that distinguishes tilapia from other genetically engineered products - scientists have made it so that mainly males are born.
The reason lies in the mechanism of protection of the offspring that exists in tilapia - in case of danger, the female hides eggs and fry in her mouth, while stopping to eat so as not to accidentally eat the children. Such a hunger strike can last up to a week, which negatively affects the growth of fish, therefore it is more profitable to breed exactly males, who are not prevented from gaining weight.
5. Golden seahorses
If you have money, but you are tired of boring gilded gadgets, jewelry and expensive cars, pay attention to an unusual pet that will emphasize the wealth of its owner and at the same time give him a lot of joyful minutes.
Vietnamese scientists showed the world a seahorse that looks like it is made of pure gold. For its birth, it was necessary to mix a certain amount of gold dust and protein contained in jellyfish, and then add the resulting "cocktail" to seahorse caviar using the so-called "genetic shooting" method, which, it is said, will find widespread use in the future in changing DNA for example in the treatment of diabetes. Physicians will be able to "shoot" at cells, replacing problem areas of DNA with healthy ones.
6. Camel as a pharmacy
Dubai genetics went their own special way - they make changes in the genetic code of some animals in order to obtain genetically modified milk, which, according to preliminary forecasts, can cope with certain diseases.
Camels are the main material for experiments, because the "ships of the desert" are unpretentious in food, resistant to diseases and easily adapt to various climatic conditions.
7. Antimalarial mosquitoes
Each year, about a million people are killed by one of the most serious and dangerous diseases in the world - malaria. More than one generation of doctors is struggling to solve this problem, and scientists consider the creation of genetically improved mosquitoes that are unable to spread malaria and at the same time possess the corresponding dominant gene as one of the last arguments in the fight. In other words, when a common malaria mosquito mates with a modified offspring, the gene responsible for the transmission of malaria will be blocked in the offspring.
Of course, there is a danger of reciprocal mutations that can neutralize the positive effect of the new gene, why not create a mechanism of “genetic self-destruction” for mosquitoes, when the offspring will die before reaching puberty, because now it is quite possible?
The fact is that a sharp decline in the number of mosquitoes will inevitably affect other links in the food chain: for example, several rare species of bats may disappear, for which insects and, in particular, mosquitoes are one of the main components of the diet.
8. Super cows
The first artificially bred bull was named Hermann, he was born in Germany in 1990. Since then, science has made significant strides forward, and now there are various breeds of cows that are resistant to rabies, infections, and even without horns, in order to reduce the innate tendency to "huff".
Among the breeds that were born with the participation of man is the famous Belgian blue. Once, as a result of long experiments of breeders, a calf was born with a gene that suppresses the production of myostatin, a protein that is responsible for stopping muscle growth, so the process of feeding meat in a goby practically did not stop. The process of the so-called doubling of muscle mass allowed the cows of the new breed to quickly gain popularity among farmers, and in addition to intensive weight gain, the Belgian blue cows are famous for the low fat content in meat, the dishes from which attract gourmets around the world.
9. Pork with spinach flavor
The Japanese have raised pigs to help meat lovers improve their diets. The creators named the genetically modified pig breed Popeye Pigs in honor of the famous Disney cartoon character, Captain Popeye, who ate mostly spinach.
Scientists have implanted in pigs one of the spinach genes that converts saturated fat found in pork into healthier, more easily digestible unsaturated fats (linoleic acid).
Although research has not yet revealed any complications from eating genetically improved pork, die-hard opponents of meat-eating are unlikely to like this product - you can simply eat vegetables, instead of inventing "vegetable meat".
10. Pets that glow in the dark
Have you heard of the glowing rabbit? Since he was born in 2000, geneticists have tirelessly experimented with various animals, instilling in them the ability to emit a glow.
Such experiments are conducted not only with the aim of giving people the opportunity to give each other funny dogs and cats: for example, the introduction of a gene responsible for glow in the dark in cats improves their resistance to the immunodeficiency virus. Researchers have created glowing fish to track their migration and, in addition, doctors say that experiments with fluorescent genes will help in the development of treatments for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
By the way, one of the side options for using the unique technology of the Japanese is the creation of unusually beautiful