Mutants In The News — Glowworm Edition

Courtesy of the BBC...

Scientists have created the first creature with artificial substances wired into its genetic code.

"What makes the newly created animals different is that their genetic code has been extended to create biological molecules not known in the natural world.

"Just 20 amino acids are used in natural living organisms...but [they] have re-engineered the nematode worm's gene-reading machinery to include a 21st amino acid, not found in nature."

The researchers go on to say that they could "introduce into organisms designer proteins that could be controlled by light."

Huh.

Worms controlled by light. 

Sure, it starts there...but then you end up with worms that do the light-controlling...that happen to be 9-foot long, carnivorous, winged, and damage-resistant!

Jim Ward is like Nostradamus, only he gave us his prophecies a boxed rpg set.  And yet again, we ignore his warnings at our own peril.