Electric eels have the ability to mutate other creatures just by shocking them!

In a fascinating turn of nature, Amazon's electric eels possess the remarkable ability to produce up to 860 volts of electricity—more than sufficient to power typical household devices. However, their extraordinary power serves purposes beyond merely stunning prey.

Recent research reveals that these eels, resembling catfish, can influence the genetic composition of nearby organisms through electroporation, a process commonly employed in laboratories to introduce foreign genetic material into cells using electrical pulses to create temporary pores in cell membranes.

A team from Nagoya University in Japan investigated whether the electric discharges of these eels could replicate this phenomenon in the wild. By exposing zebrafish larvae to a DNA solution with a fluorescent marker and introducing an electric eel into the tank, they discovered that 5% of the larvae exhibited the glowing marker, indicating DNA uptake.

This challenges conventional views of electroporation, suggesting it can naturally occur. Lead researcher Atsuo Iida suggests that organisms generating electricity, including electric eels, might impact genetic modification in nature. This finding implies that the evolution and adaptation of organisms in the Amazonian ecosystem could be influenced by this natural process.

Electric eels, traditionally seen as apex predators, may now be acknowledged as unintentional genetic engineers, shaping the genetic landscape of their surroundings. This study advances our understanding of the intricate relationship between organisms and their environment, revealing the potential for naturally occurring electroporation to impact genetic diversity and adaptation in evolution and environmental biology.

So, if you ever navigate the Amazon, be on the lookout for these electrifying creatures—they might be shaping the future of life on Earth, one electric pulse at a time.