Ever have a relaxing weekend with plenty of rest, and when you return to work someone tells you, “you’re glowing!”? Not in the literal sense, but if you say that to a glow fish it has a whole new meaning. Glow fish are the first genetically engineered pet that are actually “glowing!” It has been a constant topic of ethical discussions on whether or not this could disrupt natural biodiversity if released into the wild. For now, it has been concluded that they pose no threat.
Glow fish were created when black tetra fish were combined with genetic material from coral, causing them to express high levels of different fluorescent proteins. The fluorescent proteins cause the fish to fluoresce or glow when they absorb specific wavelengths of light.
With help from a local aquarium supply store, we were able to test different glow fish to determine which fish fluoresced strongly and would be suitable for sale. Please note, no fish were harmed during this experiment. The fish that did not have strong fluorescence (those that didn’t make the cut) were donated to a StellarNet team member who provided them with a good home and good life where they thrive to this day. Using a 470nm excitation source to illuminate the fish, we briefly placed the fish in a cuvette holder and were able to determine how strongly they fluoresce. Check out our fluorescence systems.
These bioengineered glow fish remain a pet specifically designed by humans for our own enjoyment. Their enhanced glow will surely attract predators, so please be responsible and never release them to the wild.
