Researchers Find Electric Eels Can Rewrite Genetic Code of Fish Nearby

Researchers Find Electric Eels Can Rewrite Genetic Code of Fish Nearby

Researchers at Nagoya University have unearthed a groundbreaking revelation about electric eels: these astonishing creatures possess the ability to alter the genetic makeup of small fish larvae through their electric shocks. This shocking discovery sheds new light on electroporation, a technique that employs electricity to transport genes.

The electric eel, renowned as the most substantial electricity-producing creature globally, can discharge an impressive 860 volts, ample to power a machine. In a recent study detailed in PeerJ - Life and Environment, scientists from Nagoya University unravelled the eel's capacity to modify the genes of minute fish larvae electrically.

This discovery delves into electroporation, a method harnessing an electric field to create openings in cell membranes transiently. These temporary pores enable the entry of molecules like DNA or proteins into the targeted cells.

Led by Professor Eiichi Hondo and Assistant Professor Atsuo Iida, the research team speculated on the potential impact of electricity flow on neighbouring organisms' cells. They pondered whether cells could integrate DNA fragments present in water, referred to as environmental DNA.

To examine this hypothesis, they exposed young fish to a DNA solution tagged with a luminescent marker, monitoring its uptake by zebrafish. Subsequently, they introduced an electric eel, inducing it to discharge electricity by biting a feeder.

Assistant Professor Iida expressed his belief that electroporation might occur naturally, contrary to common perception labelling it solely as a laboratory process. He postulated that electric eels in the Amazon River could serve as power sources, prompting genetic recombination in nearby organisms by releasing environmental DNA fragments due to electric discharge.

Their experiments revealed that 5 percent of the larvae displayed markers signifying gene transfer induced by the electric eel's discharge. Despite the eels exhibiting distinct pulse shapes and unstable voltage compared to conventional electroporation machines, the transfer of genes to cells was evident.

This study not only underscores the potential of electric eels and electricity-generating organisms to influence genetic modification in nature but also echoes similar observations of natural phenomena like lightning impacting nematodes and soil bacteria.

Assistant Professor Iida anticipates further exploration of electric field research in living organisms, believing it holds promise beyond conventional understanding and may unravel new biological phenomena, potentially sparking groundbreaking discoveries in the future.