Glow in the Dark Axolotl

Axolotls are a fascinating species of salamander that is extensively studied around the world for many reasons. Their ability to fluoresce and regrow lost limbs make them ideal for a wide range of scientific studies on regeneration, cancer, and other important biological processes. In addition to their natural colors, they are also available in a variety of genetically modified (GFP) morphs that glow bright green under UV or blacklight.

GFP axolotls have been genetically engineered by breeding normal axolotls with a gene for the Green Fluorescent Protein. This protein is sourced from jellyfish and introduces a brilliant fluorescent green color to the skin of the salamander under UV light. GFP axolotls look the same as any other color morph under normal conditions, but their bright green glow under UV light is unmistakable.

The GFP gene has been incorporated into the DNA of the axolotl through a process known as gene splicing. Genes are a series of chemical instructions that are passed on from parent to offspring through cell division. Each axolotl has 28 chromosomes in fourteen pairs. Each chromosome contains a specific group of genes which dictate a particular trait, such as an axolotl’s color or its ability to regenerate lost limbs.

Genetically Modified Axolotls: The Road To Limb Regeneration

Axolotls are able to regenerate their limbs and skin because they retain their larval form into adulthood, a state of development called neoteny. The axolotl’s embryonic growth process allows them to rebuild their limbs, skeleton, skin, organs, and even parts of their brain and spinal cord. Scientists hope that one day they can use the axolotl’s unique regeneration abilities to help humans with their own medical conditions, such as limb loss or traumatic injury.

Unlike many amphibians, axolotls have four lungs rather than two. Their lungs are located on the sides of their bodies and they take in air through an opening near the top of their head. They are able to take in enough air to survive on land for short periods of time, but they need to return to the water in order to breathe.

Axolotls can be found in a number of different colors, or morphs, due to the numerous combinations of genes that can be expressed on their skin. The total number of genes an axolotl has, and whether or not they are expressed, is referred to as its genotype. The specific coloration an axolotl displays is determined by the presence of three pigments in its skin. The first pigment is a dark melanin, eumelanin, which appears brown or black. The second pigment is xanthophores, which appear yellow or orange/red, and the third is iridophores, which contain crystallized purines that reflect light and can give the axolotl a shimmering gold or silver appearance.