My reef tank made me rethink custom coral genes.

I keep a saltwater tank and wanted glow in the dark corals. I thought using gene editing for cool looks was no big deal. But I read how altered corals could spread and mess up real oceans. Now I see it's risky to play with genes just for a hobby project.

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4 Comments

nguyen.angela6mo ago

You wanted glowing corals at home?

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the_finley6mo ago

Always reminded me of those neon tetras at the pet store. Same weird, fake-looking vibe.

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keith_bennett6mo ago

Felt the same way about modifying fancy goldfish years ago.

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finleyl395mo ago

Oh man, I totally get that view but I see it different. I mean, those fancy goldfish breeds came from hundreds of years of careful selection, it's not the same as injecting dye. To me, it feels more like dog breeding, just way slower. Maybe it's just me but that long history makes it feel less weird than the newer glow fish stuff.

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