- The results of a study show that electric eels can actually change the genes of other species.
- Electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) that live in the Amazon River, Latin America are not only good at producing electric shocks for sensing, finding food and defending themselves.
- Previously it was known that there was only one species of electric eel, namely Electrophorus electricus. However, in 2019 it was reclassified into three species, namely E. electricus, E. varii, and E. voltai. This last species is capable of delivering an electric shock of 860 volts.
- Could electric eels be partly responsible for the biodiversity of the Amazon River? That question must be answered by field testing. But theoretically, this hypothesis is possible.
Electric eels ( Electrophorus electricus) that live in the Amazon River, Latin America are not only good at producing electric shocks for sensing, finding food and defending themselves. Recent studies have proven that electric shocks from these animals can also change the genes of surrounding organisms.
Could electric eels be partly responsible for the biodiversity of the Amazon River? That question must be answered by field testing. But theoretically, this hypothesis is possible.
Not long ago, a group of researchers from Nagoya University and Kyoto University discovered that electric eels can release electricity which can cause genetic modification of fish larvae. They reported these findings in the PeerJ journal some time ago.
In genetic engineering, there is a method called electroporation. This is a method that uses electric shocks to enlarge the pores of cell membranes. In this way, foreign DNA or proteins can enter the target cells. So far, electroporation can only be done in the laboratory.
"I think electroporation is possible in nature," said Eiichi Hondo, one of the researchers, as quoted from Phys .
“I realized that electric eels in the Amazon River could serve as a source of electricity, organisms living nearby could act as receptor cells, and environmental DNA fragments released into the water would become foreign genes, causing genetic recombination in surrounding organisms due to the electrical discharge .
Scientists believe that natural electroporation can occur due to lightning. But this has never been tested. Through the researchers' discoveries, the possibility of this happening naturally has become open. Apart from electric eels, it is possible that electroporation is also carried out by other animals that can produce electricity or what is known as electric organ discharge (EOD).
To reach their conclusion, the researchers placed electric eels in tanks filled with water controlled for temperature, PH and light exposure. Electric eels are also routinely given food in the form of pellets and other live foods.
They also prepared a tank containing zebrafish larvae. In this tank, the water used contains DNA that codes for a green fluorescent protein. It is assumed that this DNA will cause zebrafish to appear green when it is dark or low light.
The electric eel was then transferred into a tank containing zebrafish larvae with a DNA solution. To fish for OED, electric eels are fed goldfish. The electricity generated when the animal paralyzes the goldfish is measured and the entire process is observed. As a result, the researchers found that weak fluorescence was visible on the inside and back skin of most of the fish larvae after being exposed to electric shocks from electric eels while preying on goldfish.
Currently, the electric eel is the animal that can produce the largest amount of electricity in the animal kingdom. The newest species of electric eel is known to produce electric shocks of up to 860 volts (unidirectional). Even though it is different in several ways, try to compare it with the electricity in our house where the voltage is only 220 volts (alternating). There is a video that shows an electric shock from this eel can paralyze a crocodile that was about to eat it.
The shock will not kill healthy people, but it can be dangerous for those with weak hearts.
Previously it was known that there was only one species of electric eel called Electrophorus electricus . However, in 2019 it was reclassified into three species, namely E. electricus , E. varii , and E. voltai . This last species is capable of delivering an electric shock of 860 volts.
In fact, electric eels are more closely related to catfish and goldfish than to eels themselves. Electric eels belong to the knifefish family that live in freshwater habitats, all of which are capable of producing electricity even though they are weak.
Electrophorus electricus is a species of electric eel that lives in the Northern Amazon region covering parts of Brazil, Guyana and Suriname.E. variiis found in the lowlands of the Amazon basin. WhileE. voltaiin several states of Brazil.
EOD observed in electric eels, if the voltage is low, is used for sensing. Periodic high voltage current is used when searching for prey. Meanwhile, high voltage current with a high frequency is used when capturing prey or as a defense mechanism.
Other research is currently developing electricity-generating mechanisms in electric eels for the world of health. For example, it is applied to make batteries and sensors that can be implanted in humans.