Electric Eels' Shocking DNA Transfer Ability Discovered
Electric eels have been found to discharge enough electricity that nearby fish larvae can undergo genetic modifications through a process called electroporation, which allows DNA to move into cells. This is believed to be the first time this mechanism of gene transfer has been observed in nature. Researchers conducted an experiment using zebrafish larvae and found that 5% of them showed green fluorescence, indicating that the DNA solution in the water had been taken up by the fish. The study suggests that electric eels and other organisms that generate electricity could potentially affect genetic modification in their natural environment.