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7/28/2019 Midterm Presentation Text

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ABSTRACT:

No matter the age, and no matter the extent of the bound and love between you and your siblings,

sometimes they can be very much of a nuisance. The Secret Sibling Weapon is the ultimate method of

scaring your siblings, friends, cousins, nephews and nieces out of their wit. This weapon is a pill that,

after consumption, works to modify your DNA via the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene that willintegrate into your DNA and cause your skin (and internal organs) to glow a green color under blue light

and hopefully extensively frighten your tormentor. The idea behind this project branches off of the

glowing bunny, Alba, through genetic modification by French geneticist Louis-Marie Houdebine as an

artistic work by contemporary artist Eduardo Kac (although there is much controversy over this

arrangement and the motivation behind the project). Additional projects that led to this product

include Reinhard Nestelbachers, a molecular biologist at the University of Salsburg, similar art project

Green that used mice carrying the GFP gene and the development of the nude transgenic mouse and

enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP).

CONCEPT/TOPIC:

I propose to develop a pill filled with nanobots containing the EGFP gene and that, once swallowed,

disperse to the somatic cells in the body. The nanobots will adhere themselves to the somatic cells

membranes and inject the gene into the nuclei of the cells; the gene will be deliberately inserted into

the individuals genome via recombinant DNA techniques: called somatic gene therapy. Screw in a blue

light bulb into your siblings/friends/cousins/nephews/nieces bedroom or carry a flashlight with a

blue light, shine it on yourself, and you will glow green in the dark; guaranteed to cause your victims to

cower under their sheets.

CONTEXT & PRECEDENCE:

In 2000, a genetically modified albino rabbit was created by French geneticist Louis-Marie Houdebine.

The bunny, later named Alba, was injected with the GFP gene while as an embryo and then returned to

the mother rabbits womb. After Alba was born, whenever she was exposed to blue light, her eyes and

ears would literally glow green.

In addition to Alba, Anticancer Inc. has developed nude transgenic mice that can basically fluoresce

green akin to Alba and which are used in cancer research. Another project run by a molecular biologist

at the University of Salzburg, Reinhard Nestelbacher, also employed the GFP gene in his art project

Green producing glowing green mice.

Since GFP is a commonly used molecule in mammals, including humans, to trace the synthesis and pathof proteins and the progression of some cancers, and since I remember the many times when I was

living at home that my brother managed to hide in niches around the house just to scare me as I turned

the corner, I thought that it would be lovely to develop a oral medication that can cause the human

body to glow under a blue filter.

GFP & SOMATIC CELL THERAPY:


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PROJECT PROPOSAL:

The design consists of a single medicinal tablet containing nanorobots which, in turn, contain the

enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Once swallowed, the outside coating of the pill will

dissolve, leaving the nanobots free to spread throughout the body to the somatic cells and splice itself

to the gene coding for the target protein, actin via somatic gene therapy. Now, whenever the actin ismade, EGFP will be attached. Since EGFP fluoresces, one can shine a blue flashlight or light on oneself

and wait for the distinctive EGFP to fluoresce, which should take around fifteen to twenty minutes.

When the GFP glows, your haunting can begin!

CONCLUSION:

According to Glowing Genes by Dr. Marc Zimmer, Ph.D., animals that glow in the dark such as Alba

have lead to major technological advancements in the molecular biological revolution. Green flouescent

protein (GFP) has many potential applications, including helping fight cancer, creating new products,

improving agriculture, even aiding in combat terrorism. However, hopefully pranks never go out of

fashion and playing such pranks on your siblings, relatives, and friends, never lose its appeal. Although

there are many innovative and wonderful ways to use GFP, I would not miss the look on my brothers

face for anything when he watches my skin glow.

Bibliography:

1) All About Somatic Gene Therapy. Creativix. 7 March 2011. Walesgenepark.co.uk. 7 February 2013..

2) Beltram, F; Cinelli, RA; Ferari, A; Giacca, M; Pellegrini, V; Tyagi, M. The enhanced green fluorescentprotein as a tool for the analysis of protein dynamics and localization: local fluorescence study at the

single-molecule level. Photochem Photobiol. June 2000. PubMed.gov. 7 February 2013. .

3) Bhargava, Amit. Nanorobots: Medicine of the Future. IEEE Bombay Section. 7 February 2013. .

4) Green fluorescent protein. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 21 January 2013. WikimediaFoundation, Inc. 7 February 2013. .

5) Gene Therapy. Genetics Home Reference: Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions. 4February 2013. Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications. 7 February 2013. .

6) Kac, Eduardo. GFP Bunny. Rabbit Remix. 2000. 7 February 2013.

7) Nanobot. Nanobot.info: Report on Nanobots (Nanotechnology Robots). 2008. Center forResponsible Nanotechnology. 7 February 2013. < http://www.nanobot.info/>

8) Onion, Amanda. Rabbit Gene-Spliced With Jellyfish Glows In The Dark. Rense.com. September2000. TheHostPros. 7 February 2013. < http://rense.com/general3/glowsd.htm>.

9) Rubinowitz, Susan. Glowing Rabbit Sparks Controversy. 23 September 2000. Petplace.com. 7February 2013. .


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10)Somatic Cell. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 11 December 2012. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7February 2013. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_cell>

11)Transgeneic Animals. 13 June 2011. 7 February 2013.

12)Zimmer, Marc. Glowing Genes: A Revolution in Biotechnology. New York: Prometheus Books, 2005.Print.

13)Zimmer, Marc. Cool Uses: Cancer." GFP Green Fluorescent Protein. 17 December 2012. 7February 2013. .

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