Electric eels, the largest electricity-producing creatures on Earth, have recently been discovered to possess the ability to genetically modify tiny fish larvae, according to a study conducted by researchers from Nagoya University in Japan. Published in PeerJ, the study sheds light on the potential of electric eels to act as natural agents for gene transfer.

The research team, led by Prof. Eiichi Hondo and Asst. Prof. Atsuo Iida, investigated a gene delivery technique called electroporation. Electroporation uses an electric field to create temporary pores in the cell membrane, allowing molecules like DNA or proteins to enter the target cell.

The researchers hypothesized that the electric currents produced by electric eels in rivers could affect the cells of nearby organisms, enabling the incorporation of DNA fragments in the water. To test this hypothesis, they exposed young zebrafish larvae to a DNA solution and introduced an electric eel into the environment. They observed that a significant portion of the larvae exhibited markers indicating gene transfer, suggesting that the electric eel’s discharge promoted the transfer of genetic material into the cells of the zebrafish.

Iida noted that while electroporation is typically viewed as a laboratory process, he believed it could occur naturally. He explained, “I realized that electric eels in the Amazon River could well act as a power source, organisms living in the surrounding area could act as recipient cells, and environmental DNA fragments released into the water would become foreign genes, causing genetic recombination in the surrounding organisms because of electric discharge,” in a statement from Nagoya University on Phys.org.

The study’s findings challenge conventional wisdom and open up new possibilities for understanding the role of electric fields in living organisms. Similar phenomena have been observed with naturally occurring fields, such as lightning, affecting nematodes and soil bacteria. Iida expressed excitement about the potential of electric field research in living organisms, believing that it could lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the complexities of life.

While this study represents an initial exploration of the impact of electric eel electric organ discharge on gene transfer, further research is needed to fully comprehend this phenomenon’s ecological implications. The researchers’ findings highlight the fascinating world of electric eels and their potential role in genetic modification in nature, paving the way for future investigations into this intriguing study area.

References

• Nagoya University. (2023, December 5). ‘Shocking’ discovery: Electricity from electric eels may transfer genetic material to nearby animals. Phys.Org; Nagoya University. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-discovery-electricity-electric-eels-genetic.html
• Sakaki, S., Ito, R., Abe, H., Kinoshita, M., Hondo, E., & Iida, A. (2023). Electric organ discharge from electric eel facilitates DNA transformation into teleost larvae in laboratory conditions. PeerJ, 11, e16596. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16596