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GM Fish. How to.

Posted by michael on from the whopper-of-a-tale dept.

sykesm sent us this tale about genetically engineered fish. All I can say is, as soon as the first three-eyed fish comes out genetic engineering is going to have a crisis on its hands.

1 of 6 comments (clear)

  1. three-eyed fish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

    "three-eyed fish"?!

    Hrrm. In fact, ALL bony fish are "three-eyed fish", and that includes all tetrapods (four-legged vertebrates).

    The third eye is probably better known under its name "pineal organ" but it is well known that it has several light receptors of the same fashion as the lateral eyes.

    Some fifteen years ago I did a small study on the pineal organ in the "blind" Mexican cave fish (Astyanax mexicanus [previously known as "Anoptichthys jordani]). That fish which has degenerate eyes (whereby "eye-less would be better than "blind"), but still intact optic nerves which retain the light sensory mechanism, and, as my study showed a fully light receptive pineal organ. The reason these cave retain light receptors is that they need to _avoid_ light; predators lurk out there.

    The odd lizard "tuatara" has even developed a primitive lens located between and behind the regular eyes.

    So, in the light of this there is nothing new under the sun.

    Cheers