Glowing Fish are First Genetically Engineered Pets

securitas writes "It was bound to happen. Texas-based biotechnology company Yorktown Technologies will start selling a 'genetically engineered aquarium fish that glows in the dark.' The trademarked GloFish -- 'a tropical zebra fish infused with the gene of a sea anemone that makes it glow fluorescent red' -- is first genetically engineered pet. The possible consequences of introducing a new trangenic species into the environment has touched off a debate that has critics such as the National Academies of Science and the Center for Food Safety calling for a ban on the sale of the fish unless the FDA regulates and approves it. The fish go on sale in January 2004. You can see photos of the GloFish here. Cool, but it's no Blinky." M : I think these guys are marketing the fish for a Taiwanese company.

Bummer

[Durin_Deathless]

From their FAQ:
What if a fluorescent zebra fish is eaten? Eating a fluorescent zebra fish is the same as eating any other zebra fish. Their fluorescence is derived from a naturally occurring gene and is completely safe for the environment. Just as eating a blue fish would not turn a predator blue, eating a fluorescent fish would not make a predator fluoresce.

Bummer, I was hoping to see fluorescent cats!

A Real Challenge

[crass751]

Now if only someone could genetically engineer a fish that didn't die within a week.

I've had about 5 fish, only one of them lived longer than a week.

Ultimate Case Mod

[herulach]

With a few of these and one of these [slashdot.org] you'd have a way cool case.

Who needs cold cathodes?

Thinking about he food chain....

[Richard_L_James]

Glowing Fish are First Genetically Engineered Pets

I bet cats will indirectly become the second ;-)

I'll wait

[l0ungeb0y]

Till they come out with a 5 assed monkey thank you very much.

1 monkey.
5 asses.
is it so much to ask for?

Re:Novelty Item

[Richard_L_James]

What purpose do a glowing fish have? 1) No need to install lights in fish tanks/ponds 2) Makes nightime fishing easier 3) You can actually see your food during the candle lit dinner with your girlfriend.... :-)

Re:A Real Challenge

[richy freeway]

Or genetically modify people to look after fish better. :P

red eh?

[DaBjork]

Couldn't they have chosen a better color than red? I just have this image of a kid curled up in bed at night, unable to sleep staring at this ominous red glowing fish all night.

GloFish not as cool as Dopefish

[Gathers]

GloFish, eh? I think I'll wait for Dopefish [dopefish.com] to be available as pet.

Not "glow-in-the-dark"

[Corgha]

I'm a little disappointed. These aren't bioluminescent-type glow-in-the-dark fish like the ones that live in the deep sea. They're fluorescent glow-in-the-UV fish like the ones that live in the rave.

Re:Bummer

[Daniel Dvorkin]

We breed fluorescent mice at my work. Cute little critters, have no idea that they glow. But they probably do wonder why people are always picking them up and sticking them under funny-colored lights and making "ooh, aah" noises. ;)

Evil Fish!

[cyclist1200]

We all know that these genetically engineered glowing fish are evil [userfriendly.org]!

Anchovies

[Treacle Treatment]

I want glow-in-the-dark anchovies so I can watch LOTR in the dark and still eat pizza!

I can assure the world

[Glowing Fish]

I can assure the world that I am Mostly Harmless.

Re:A name

[Anonymous Coward]

You have GOT to be kidding. God? What are you, eight years old?

Cabbits

[rlp]

Personally, I'm waiting for cabbits. But only the ones that transform into either spacecraft or mechas.

Will shit glow in the dark

[SoVi3t]

If you eat the fish, and go to the washroom, will it glow in the dark? Cuz I'm pretty sure that would be somewhat spooky to leave there in the dark :)

Re:Will shit glow in the dark

[in7ane]

I think the better question to get answered is what happens if one of those see through fish eat the glowing fish?

What if it's a glowing see through fish as well...

I guess what I want to know is what are the chances of getting see through glowing shit?

Re:These DO NOT glow in the dark

[musingmelpomene]

Well, I wonder about the effect of this on the fish. It wouldn't be terribly good for humans to have focused, intense UV rays pumped at us all day. Are these fish going to become horrible mutant fish?

Re:Novelty Item

[xerxesVII]

Yes, but the Ford concept car will not go out in the wild and breed with other cars, producing unknown results.

Obviously, you don't know much about cars.

Re:Bummer

[filtur]

New application for spam: Enlarge your penis! And make it glow! The lightsaber you always wanted!