"We'll breed him and we'll see if his kids glow, too!" Meet Mr. Green Genes: (No, not that Mr. Green Jeans) Pic. Pic. [more inside]
posted by cjorgensen on Oct 24, 2008 - 30 comments

The 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to scientists who advanced the use of jellyfish green florescent protein, or GFP (previously), an indispensable tool in molecular biology. The man who discovered the GFP gene, however, is doing something quite different these days. [more inside]
posted by NikitaNikita on Oct 9, 2008 - 13 comments

It all started in 1994 with GFP (green fluorescent protein) labeled E. coli and C. elegans (roundworm) cells. Once people realized that you could express the gene for a jellyfish protein in other cells without any other jellyfish-specific factors, it was possible to label any cell green simply by inserting the gene. Biologists realized the endless possiblities soon enough. GFP zebrafish (1997) [.pdf]. GFP mice (1998). GFP Bunny (more art than science, and previously ...) (2000). GFP monkey (2000). Fluorescent green pigs (2006). But nothing combines cuteness and transgentic more than the newly announced RFP (red fluorescent protein) kitty! And not only are they red fluorescent, but they're cloned to boot!
posted by scblackman on Dec 12, 2007 - 42 comments

Brainbow. Using some very cool genetic tricks, Harvard scientists have found a way to make transgenic mice that express various mixtures of different coloured fluorescent proteins in their neurons. The result, individual brain cells with up to 90 distinct colours. Not surprisingly, this visually impressive work is in this month's issue of Nature.
posted by kisch mokusch on Nov 1, 2007 - 19 comments