Natural rainbow gene expression

The natural world has once again proven its ability to outshine human attempts at mimicry. Pioneers who developed green fluorescent protein for biochemical use shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Since such fluorescent proteins are now an integral tool in biochemistry, others expounded upon this technique, making fluorescent proteins in multiple colors. This colorful palette allows scientists to mark many different neurons with various colors, enabling researchers to follow the paths of individual axons. Scientists can now watch processes that were previously invisible, like the development of nerve cells in the brain or the migration of cancer cells.

Nature seems already to have done the experiment quite beautifully.

Jellyfish expert Lisa Gershwin discovered a new species of jellyfish that reflects a rainbow of light; light reflects off the creature's cilia. The discovery reminds us of the species richness of underwater regions off the coast of Australia: this is the 159^th species that Gershwin has discovered. The organism is exquisitely delicate, shattering as soon as it touches a net. The fragility of this creature and of the ecosystem it inhabits are only beginning to be appreciated by the globe's most powerful and reckless inhabitants.

For more, see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090317-new-rainbow-jellyfish-picture.html

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Natural rainbow gene expression

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