GM glow-fish a transgenic coup for NUS

Colourful zebrafish carrying the genes of the jellyfish and sea anemone are on view at Underwater World Singapore

By Sylvia Low

WHAT flashes red, yellow and green, stops people in their tracks, but is not a traffic light?

Red, yellow and green are the three colours of the transgenic zebrafish. The mutant fish (bottom), with their bold neon streaks, and the Sea Nettle jellyfish(top), which is transparent and is 95 per cent water, can be viewed at the all-new transgenic fish and jellyfish exhibition called "Jelly world" which opened at Underwater World in Sentosa yesterday.--HOW HWEE YOUNG

Answer: The zebrafish at the Underwater World Singapore, of course!

The genetically-modified creatures have taken a research team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) four years of breeding to show off their three shades.

They are now going with the swim of things exclusively at the Underwater World, the first aquarium in the world to exhibit transgenic fish planted with genes from another organism - in this case, the fluorescent protein genes of the jellyfish and the sea anemone.

And its creators at NUS are getting ready to splash more colours to the zebrafish palette.

But apart from presenting a pretty picture, these mutant fishes are potential detectors of cancer-causing agents or environmental pollution.

Said Dr Gong Zhiyuan who led the NUS research team in the glow-fish cultivation: 'With the success of the zebrafish, the transgenic technology can now be readily introduced to any species.'

Any commercial plans for these brilliant fishes?

'It will really depend on the market demand,' Dr Gong said.

Housed in the aquarium's all-new 'Jelly World', the colourful delights will share the limelight with their gelatinous relations, the jellyfishes.

Also having the honour of being the first in South-east Asia to host jellyfish, the aquarium is exhibiting three species of these transparent invertebrates that are really 95 per cent water - the Moon Jelly, the Sea Nettle, and the Upside-down Jellyfish.

The jellyfish can grow up to 800 tentacles and measures 50 cm in bell diameter.

Conveniently timed for the June school holidays, the 'Jelly World' attraction was officially launched yesterday and will be open to the public. Aquarium admission charges are $17 per adult and $11 per child.