Posted on 04/01/2010 11:44:12 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Scientists have created hundreds of mutant fish with "six-pack abs" and bulging "shoulders" by beefing them up with new genes.
While the fish aren't going to win any beauty contests, the genetically engineered rainbow trout could hold some appeal at market, because they each provide 15 to 20 percent more flesh than standard tout, researchers say.
Developed with fish farming in mind, the genetically modified trout is the result of ten years of experimentation by a team led by Terry Bradley of the University of Rhode Island's Department of Fisheries, Animal, and Veterinary Sciences.
The team injected 20,000 rainbow trout eggs with different types of DNA from other species, making them transgenic. The added DNA was intended to suppress a protein called myostatin, and it apparently worked in about 300 of the eggs, turning them into the muscle-bound superfish.
The transgenic trout incorporate genes modeled on myostatin-inhibiting proteins found in powerfully built Belgian blue cattle, a beef breed noted for its "double muscled" appearance.
In mammals, including humans, mysostatin is known to keep muscle growth in check—controlling myostatin is touted as a potential way to reverse muscle-wasting diseases in humans.
Many people don’t know that Chuck Yeager, yeah, the Air Force general, is credited with discovering the rainbow trout in the lakes of the Southern mountains of California.
General Yeager said that if he ever had to crash he wanted it to be in water. When he flew test missions he’d fly over those lakes. The very first time he and friends actually walked up the mountains to get to the lakes. They then started using seaplanes as in your image.
I am against genetic mutations of plant and wildlife because no one knows what kind of damage they might cause to the indigenous populations should some get out.
Now breeding for accentuated attributes is another story IMO.
They generally can’t survive in the wild as they need too much food.
(They had to teach the dumb som'bitch how to swim.)
They had to teach it how to swim... You’re right, it’s an oldie.
My regard for you is boundless. :)
You got it. It was one of those “groaner” jokes that taker ten or fifteen minutes to tell.
Except my version of the punchline included the words, “dumb sombitch”
I actually saw Frank and the Captain on stage together. I consider that a high water mark in the concert going portion of my life.
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