Fun With GFP's

Green flourescent proteins, which are naturally occuring in some species, can be attached to other proteins enabling scientists to mark proteins of their choice with a green glow. GFP's have been used to decrypt previously invisible processes, like the spread of cancer or the development of nerve cells.

Crystal Jelly- Green fluorescent protein, naturally occurring

Rhesus Macaque Monkey- Green fluorescent protein, introduced into DNA of egg via virus (2008)

Pig- Green fluorescent protein, added to embryos (2006)

Cat- Red fluorescent protein, introduced via a virus into cloned DNA, which was implanted in cat eggs, then implanted in mother (2007)

Mice- Green fluorescent protein, received via DNA from father, which had been implanted with glowing sperm-creating cells from a flourescent mouse (2004)

Mice- Cyan, red, and yellow fluorescent proteins, injected into DNA in embryos (2007)

Tobacco- Firefly luciferase gene, introduced via a virus into tobacco DNA (1986)

Emperor Scorpion- Beta-carboline, naturally occurring

Nematode Worm- Green fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2005)

Dog- Red fluorescent protein, introduced via a virus into cloned DNA (2009)

Zebrafish- Green, yellow, and red fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2003)

Bacteria- Multiple colors of fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2008)