Scientists Discover Electric Eels’ Ability to Transfer Genetic Material
In a recent study published in the scientific journal peeerj, scientists from Naga University in Japan have made a significant discovery regarding electric eels. The researchers found that these eels, capable of producing up to 860 volts of electricity, contribute to the transfer of genetic material to nearby organisms. This breakthrough expands our understanding of the process of electroporation, which is a gene delivery method that uses electric fields to create temporary pores in cell membranes for the introduction of molecules like DNA.
The study was led by Professor Eiyti Hondo and assistant Atsuo Jidah from the University of Naga. The team of scientists hypothesized that the electricity produced by eels in rivers could have an impact on the cells of surrounding organisms, causing them to absorb DNA fragments from the water.
To confirm their hypothesis, the researchers conducted experiments in a laboratory setting. Young fish were exposed to a DNA solution that contained a glowing marker to determine if the fish would absorb the DNA. An electric eel was then placed in the water and stimulated to release electricity by biting food.
Assistant Atsuo Jidah noted that although electroporation is typically considered to be a laboratory process, he suggests that it can also occur in nature. “Electric eels in the Amazon River, for example, can serve as a source of energy, with organisms in the environment acting as receiving cells. Fragments of ecological DNA released into the water can act as alien genes, leading to genetic recombination in surrounding organisms due to the electric discharge,” explained Jidah.
The researchers found that 5% of the fish larvae had transmitted genes. Jidah added, “This indicates that the discharge from the electric eel contributed to the transmission of genes, despite the fact that eels have a different form of pulse and an unstable voltage compared to conventional sources used in electroporation.”
Similar phenomena have been observed in other studies involving natural electric fields, such as lightning, affecting nematodes and soil bacteria. Jidah expresses great excitement about the potential for studying electric fields in living organisms, as he believes these effects expand beyond current understanding.
“I am convinced that exploring new biological phenomena based on unexpected and non-traditional ideas will shed light on the complexity of living organisms and will be a breakthrough in the future,” Jidah concluded.