Recent evidence has indicated that electric eels' secret power can add to what we already know about electroporation. The technique of electroporation allows researchers to manipulate cells by using electric shock to aid entry of genetic material. In other words a creative tool used for gene delivery. A research group from Nagoya University in Japan found electric eels can release enough electricity to genetically modify small fish larvae. Researchers now can utilize key findings from electric eels to better understand and expand the use of electroporation far beyond laboratories.
The study was primarily focused on electric eels. However, it is hypothesized that any organisms that generate electricity could affect genetic modification in nature. Sounds unbelievable. Any organisms and natural occurring fields have demonstrated genetic manipulation outside the laboratories. Resulting in environmental DNA fragments, foreign genes, and genetic recombination from electric shock. One of the researchers from Nagoya University elaborate on this mind-boggling evidence by alluding to the idea of being more creative to generate new discoveries. As this can highlight complex organisms and their use for the next generation.
