These fish stole an antifreeze gene from another fish and became natural GMOs
Millions of years before scientists created genetically modified Atlantic salmon with genes from two other fish, nature created genetically modified smelt with a gene from herring, growing evidence suggests. And now the Canadian scientists who first proposed that controversial idea say they have a hunch how nature might have done it.
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Evidence suggests gene moved from herring to smelt in process similar to genetic modification in the lab
Posted: Apr 06, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: April 6
Rainbow smelt share an antifreeze gene with herring, even though they re not closely related. Researchers say the gene moved from herring to smelt through a process called horizontal gene transfer.(Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press)