Thursday, September 27, 2007

Finally!


Japanese researchers develop transparent frogs

When I first saw this headline, I thought, "And we need these because ... ?" But it turns out we do need these - kids will no longer have to dissect frogs in biology class because they'll be able to see everything!

[Article excerpt]

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese researchers have succeeded in producing see-through frogs, letting them observe organs, blood vessels and eggs under the skin without performing dissections.

"You can see through the skin how organs grow, how cancer starts and develops," said the lead researcher Masayuki Sumida, professor at the Institute for Amphibian Biology of state-run Hiroshima University.

"You can watch organs of the same frog over its entire life as you don't have to dissect it. The researcher can also observe how toxins affect bones, livers and other organs at lower costs," he told AFP.


Later on in the article, they mention the possibility of producing "illuminating" frogs.

Transparent frogs that glow in the dark, people!

You're welcome.
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