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The first genetically modified pet has already gone on sale in Taiwan and will likely be on sale in the United States soon. The Night Pearl is a genetically modified zebrafish that glows in the dark.
The fish grew from research conducted by HJ Tsai of the National Taiwan University. Tsai simply wanted to make the organs of fish easier to observe, and solved that problem by inserting a jellyfish gene to make the organ glow. Instead, he ended up making the entire animal glow.
Fish produce company Taikong Corporation reached an agreement to fund Tsai's research in exchange for the right to use his techniques. Now Taikong is marketing fish that glow red and green. As might be expected, this advancement is being greeted with wildly different views.
Some, such as Keith Davenport of the UK's Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association is outraged. Davenport told The Observer,
This is the thin end of the wedge. You could put all sorts of different genes in animals and do all sorts of damage.
Among fish dealers in the United States, however, there is the obvious excitement that these fish will be big sellers. Nevin Bailey of AquariumFish.Net told The Chicago Tribune,
If they can actually do this, it will be the greatest thing since popped corn. There's a lot of pent-up demand [for the glow in the dark fish] . . .My gosh, if they ever made one that was red, white and blue, every Marine in the country would buy one.
Well, at least until they look at the price tag. At a $17.40 suggested retail price for each fish.
Source:
'Fluorescent fish' give the green light to GM pets. Robin McKie, The Observer, June 15, 2003.
Bioengineered pet fish are a reality in Taiwan. Jason Dean, Dow Jones News Service, May 12, 2003.