GM Frogs: DIY

Biohacker started selling kits for home gene modification

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

Joshua Zainer is one of the most famous biohackers, famous for risky experiments on himself. About a year ago, in the presence of journalists, he gave himself an injection that was supposed to change his DNA and build muscle mass. Now he has a new project.

After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of products for self-administered human gene therapy, Zayner focused on animals. And now anyone can order a set of genetic modification frogs from a biohacker for $399, Bloomberg reports.

The kit includes six tree frogs (Hyla cinerea shepherd frogs), cages for them, food and materials necessary for genome manipulation at home.

Photo from the website of the Zainer company the-odin.com – VM

According to Zainer, the kit has everything to independently increase the muscle mass of frogs. The aim of the project is to tell people about the possibilities of modern science and medicine.

Biohacker claims to have confirmed the effectiveness of the technique experimentally. During one of them, 12 frogs received DNA injections with human growth factor. After a few days, their weight increased by an average of 23%, while six amphibians from the control group retained their previous weight.

Scientists are not sure that Zainer's results can be transferred to humans in the near future. In their opinion, this is only the first step towards gene therapy conducted at home.

The FDA is also dubious about such a business. The Agency does not regulate the turnover of kits for gene editing of cold-blooded animals, but the modified animals themselves are in the sphere of its interests.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru