Glow in the dark Orchids?

[SaMRoza]

AFAIK, the Engineer/Genetecist was located in one of the Koreas. I think they did the same thing with the glowing fish-put the luciferase gene in them and they glowed. Of course, since they were genetically modified, many states moved rather swiftly to ban their sale.

We'll never see these flowers, I don't think. The good Dr. was really just doing it to make a quick, big buck, and I don't know if anyone ever bit.

Sam

[sake of silence]

The plant looksmore like a bifoilate catt. Not Den biggibum or Den. phal or whatever that flower came from...

[Tindomul1of9]

Can I help you smuggle? These look sooooo cool!!!
I want to post this news on another orchid forum, hope thats ok with you BD?
I'll post it in my own words though.
Thanks for posting.

[eikon]

i agree!! who wants to volunteer for a smuggling mission
this is tooooo cool...
...now if only they would do this to a phal

[Mahon]

...if you are looking for an alternative for glow-in-the-dark orchids, why don't we see if we can get some Radium-226 and paint it on the flowers (and the plant!)... it's an alpha particle emmiter, so it shouldn't be dangerous, unless you injest it...

-Pat

[Mark V]

Just a few of thoughts about this experiment.
1) This experiment took place at about the same time as the fish anti-freeze gene in the tomato plant manipulation for a frost proof tomato. Geneticists were looking at lots of animal to plant splices. It might be that a bioluminescent trait would easily demonstrate if the gene was taken up in all plant structures or just to roots, leaves, stems, blooms or fruit. In a fire fly only the tail glows.

2) I consider these type of splices particularly problematic if they get out of containment. With the introduction of insect/animal genes plant pathogens may jump species or become viable in new vectors. It would be a true drag if honey bees could be infected with terminal tobacco mosaic virus, or if insects could transmit cymbidium mosaic virus. In other words, it's a good thing these plants are not available to the general public.

[mohi]

Thats awesome... Simply...

[dsm]

wow... what's next? a glowing LAWN????

Actually, I bet that thing is pretty bright. I once had a wild experience with the glowing fungus that can infest a woodpile. I had brought in some wood to let it dry indoors after my woodpile got soaked back when I had a rural place.

I had houseguests and so took the couch for the night. Being a very rural cabin, the night was truly dark and I always slept soundly in the pitch-dark.

I woke about 3 am and noticed a green glow in the room. I thought I was half-dreaming and quietly waited for the dream to act itself out, but there was no dream, just this glow. I came fully awake and the glow was still there. I could see the ceiling, an eeerie green light filed the room. I slowly sat up, and saw the room as it was, all faintly discernible in this definitely green light. I began to feel fear rise slowly up, and every hair on my body was stiff as I followed the brightness to the source:

One half-sawn log on the pile was lit up like neon in Las Vegas.

[banyanman]

I think the scientist was selling the rights to this for a few mil a couple years ago. These would be banned from sale in the US, just as the glowing fish were.

Sam

AFAIK, the Engineer/Genetecist was located in one of the Koreas. I think they did the same thing with the glowing fish-put the luciferase gene in them and they glowed. Of course, since they were genetically modified, many states moved rather swiftly to ban their sale.

We'll never see these flowers, I don't think. The good Dr. was really just doing it to make a quick, big buck, and I don't know if anyone ever bit.

Sam

If I may please correct a couple of statements in this discussion: The scientist did not “sell the rights for a few million” and “the good doctor” did not do it “to make a quick, big buck”. He did it only as an experiment and made no money from it.

[Daethen]

So, what is the end result listed as, plant or insect? Looks really cool, but the possibilities are a bit scary to me. Sort of like the whole clone thing. I can see good sides to it, but the dark side is really dark. Of course it wouldn't be too dark if it glows. LOL