Green Fluorescent Rabbit
A new study demonstrates the feasibility of using a lentiviral approaches to create transgenic rabbits with more efficiency than classical pronuclear injection transgenesis developed in rabbits two decades ago.
Tracing Ruppy, the reporter-dog, the enhanced transgenic bunny carries a green fluorescent protein. Rabbits are still used as laboratory animals as they are genetically closer to primates and are large enough to allow safe and secure blood sampling compared to mice. Thus, transgenic rabbits are promising models for cardiovascular research.
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Hiripi, L., Negre, D., Cosset, F., Kvell, K., Czömpöly, T., Baranyi, M., Gócza, E., Hoffmann, O., Bender, B., & Bősze, Z. (2010). Transgenic rabbit production with simian immunodeficiency virus-derived lentiviral vector Transgenic Research DOI: 10.1007/s11248-009-9356-y
The green fluorescent rabbit, also known as Alba, was created in 2000 by Eduardo Kac, a Brazilian artist, and Louis-Marie Houdebine, a French geneticist. Alba was the first genetically modified mammal to be publicly displayed as a work of art.
Alba was created by injecting the fertilized egg of a white rabbit with a gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. GFP is a protein that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light. When Alba is exposed to ultraviolet light, her skin, fur, and eyes all glow green.
Alba's creation was controversial at the time, with some people arguing that it was unethical to create a genetically modified animal for artistic purposes. Others argued that Alba was a valuable tool for raising awareness of the potential of biotechnology.
Alba was bred to produce offspring, but her first litter of rabbits did not inherit the GFP gene. Alba's second litter consisted of two rabbits, one of which was male and one of which was female. The male rabbit inherited the GFP gene, while the female rabbit did not.
Alba died in 2006 at the age of six. Her body is preserved in the cryogenics lab of Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The green fluorescent rabbit is a unique and fascinating animal. It is a reminder of the potential of biotechnology to create new and innovative forms of life.
Applications of the green fluorescent rabbit
The green fluorescent rabbit has a number of potential applications in biomedical research, including:
- Studying the development of cancer: GFP-expressing cancer cells can be easily tracked and visualized in living animals, which can help scientists to learn more about how cancer cells grow and spread.
- Studying the immune system: GFP-expressing immune cells can be tracked and visualized in living animals, which can help scientists to learn more about how the immune system works to fight infection and disease.
- Developing new drugs: GFP-expressing cells can be used to screen for new drugs that can target specific cellular processes.
The green fluorescent rabbit is a valuable tool for biomedical research, and it is likely to play an important role in the development of new treatments for a variety of diseases.
How the green fluorescent rabbit could be used in biomedical research:
- Studying the effects of new cancer treatments: GFP-expressing cancer cells could be injected into green fluorescent rabbits and then treated with new cancer drugs. The researchers could then track the movement and proliferation of the cancer cells to see how the drugs are working.
- Studying the development of new vaccines: GFP-expressing immune cells could be injected into green fluorescent rabbits and then exposed to different antigens. The researchers could then track the activation and response of the immune cells to see how the vaccines are working.
- Studying the effects of environmental toxins: GFP-expressing cells could be exposed to different environmental toxins and then tracked to see how the toxins affect the cells. This could help researchers to identify new environmental toxins and to develop ways to protect people from exposure to these toxins.
The green fluorescent rabbit is a powerful tool for biomedical research. It is likely to be used to study a wide range of diseases and to develop new treatments for these diseases.
In addition to its biomedical applications, the green fluorescent rabbit has also been used in other areas of research, such as:
- Psychology: GFP-expressing mice have been used to study social behavior and learning.
- Neuroscience: GFP-expressing neurons have been used to study brain function.
- Agriculture: GFP-expressing crops have been used to study plant development and to develop new ways to protect crops from pests.
The green fluorescent rabbit is a versatile tool that can be used to study a wide range of biological processes. It is likely to continue to be used in research for many years to come.
- Alba was the first genetically modified mammal to be publicly displayed as a work of art. She was created by Eduardo Kac, a Brazilian artist, and Louis-Marie Houdebine, a French geneticist.
- Alba was created by injecting the fertilized egg of a white rabbit with a gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. GFP is a protein that glows green when exposed to ultraviolet light.
- Alba was born in 2000 and died in 2006 at the age of six. Her body is preserved in the cryogenics lab of Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Alba was a controversial figure, with some people arguing that it was unethical to create a genetically modified animal for artistic purposes. Others argued that Alba was a valuable tool for raising awareness of the potential of biotechnology.
Alba's legacy is complex and continues to be debated today. However, there is no doubt that she was a unique and fascinating animal. She was a reminder of the potential of biotechnology to create new and innovative forms of life.
Ethical considerations
The creation of Alba raised a number of ethical concerns, including:
- Consent: Alba was created without the consent of the rabbit that donated the egg.
- Suffering: It is possible that Alba experienced some suffering as a result of her genetic modification.
- Commercialization: Alba was used in a commercial art project, which some people found to be exploitative.
Despite these ethical concerns, Alba's creation also had some positive benefits. She helped to raise awareness of the potential of biotechnology and to spark a debate about the ethics of genetic engineering.
The green fluorescent rabbit, also known as Alba, was a unique and controversial animal. She was a reminder of the potential of biotechnology to create new and innovative forms of life. Alba's creation raised a number of ethical concerns, but it also had some positive benefits. Alba's legacy continues to be debated today.