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Photosynthesizing Sea Slugs Steal Genes From Algae
An anonymous reader writes For decades, scientists have puzzled over how a certain sea slug acquires the ability to photosynthesize after ingesting algae. An advanced imaging technique now confirms that the slugs are literally stealing genes from the algae. It's considered the first example of horizontal gene transfer in a multicellular organism.
I may be too optimistic but this could become a really nice laboratory tool once the exact mechanism of genetic transfer is known and replicated, gene cloning independent from plasmid or simplified transfection would be very useful for genetic engineering. Imagine easily cultured cells that not only can accept various genetic materials but actively incorporate them into their genome, "gene cloning for dummies" kits for one-step protein expression.
> It's considered the first example of horizontal gene transfer in a multicellular organism.
Now that we know horizontal gene transfer happens in nature, that should lay to rest any arguments that GMOs are unsafe, after all it is exactly the same thing just man-made in a lab where it can be tested.
Because transferring food-making genes into an inedible organism is just the same as transferring poison-making genes into your food.
The Bt gene is a 'poison making gene' in the same sense that grapes are poison berries; just because a thing harms one organism (in the case of Bt, lepidopterans and coleopterans and in the case of grapes dogs) does not mean it hurts you. The Bt toxin is very well understood; to imply it is dangerous to humans is simply dishonest.