Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Be patient...I'll get to the point eventually...

Science has proven that DNA can be manipulated by inserting DNA strands into the body. These strands effectively modify target areas of the body's own DNA. (I've oversimplified the process for brevity.) Leading research has surfaced where rats are being modified in this manner to make their muscles become either leaner for endurance or bulkier for strength. Both of which were possible without putting the rat through any kind of workout plan. (The bulky rats are called Schwarzenegger Rats) This type of genetic manipulation has been done successfully 'in situ' before the rat was born and to adult rats. The implications to the sports world are astronomical. There is a worry that such doping will begin in humans by the '08 Olympics and there is currently no way to detect it. But I digress...

I realize that such an operation is prohibitively expensive for even the most affluent private herper--for now. But what is the thought of being able to someday the morph of a snake by *simply* researching on the genetic level which genes to turn on and off? The old days of going years on morphing projects would be behind us. The technology is here--this is not science fiction. Should we try to pursue it at our level?

So what's the opinion: Takes away all the fun or opens up the door to some really serious designer snakes?

Also, what are the moral implications? What happens if the designer snake gets into wild populations? What impacts to nature's delicate design could we have? For the religious (I count myself as one), do we have any business messing with God's creations in this manner?

I'm posting this question in the corn forum, as well. Sorry if this topic has already been beaten to death.

I have seen the rabbit the that they implanted a gene to make it glow.
How about a glow in the dark snake?

Or if you want to really get extreme, how about splicing some parrot genes into the snake.

A talking, flying, glow in the dark snake. Now THAT would be cool!

I've seen scales and feathers skin-grafted onto a mouse. The feathers and scales actually grew and spread as the mouse grew. The mouse was genetically enginneered to have no immune system, so the there was no chance of tissue rejection. But that's getting a little of topic for this forum. Maybe we could engineer our snakes to be born with wings...hmmm...first step to making mythical dragons. (Ok, a little far-fetched.)

The corn forum goes into it a little more. But, as hobbists, we probably wouldn't be able to support the necessary lab equipment required to make this happen.

The tech is definitely there though.