Researchers in Australia have genetically engineered fruit flies and zebrafish to break down a highly toxic form of mercury and turn it into a less harmful gas.
Methylmercury is extremely poisonous and can affect the nervous system. It is particularly concerning as it can easily pass into the body not only through what we eat (such as seafood), but also into the brain and through the placental barrier that separates maternal blood from that of the foetus.
A study at Macquarie University, near Sydney, and CSIRO Environment, Canberra, inserted specific genes from E. coli bacteria into fruit flies and zebrafish, allowing them to produce enzymes that help a reaction that converts methylmercury to elemental mercury, which can then evaporate out of the body as a gas.
It was found that the genetically modified animals had less than half as much mercury in their bodies and could also be exposed to higher levels without it having a toxic effect.
The team believe this could be a promising approach to reduce environmental pollution and protect health, although more research is needed.
Kate Tepper, at Macquarie, said: “It still seems like magic to me that we can use synthetic biology to convert the most environmentally harmful form of mercury and evaporate it out of an animal.”