Rubis (sheep)
Rubis[a] was a sheep whose DNA contained green fluorescent protein, inherited from her genetically modified mother. She was sent to a slaughterhouse in mysterious circumstances and believed to have been eaten unknowingly.
Background
[edit]In 2012, nine lambs were created with in vitro fertilisation, and then injected with genes containing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the aequorea victoria jellyfish.[1] The lambs were born in October 2012.[2]
The scientists who performed the experiment were from the Institute of Animal Reproduction in Uruguay[3] and led by Alejo Menchaca.[1] The experiment was part of larger research in gene modification, which hoped to find ways to treat genetic problems such as diabetes and haemophilia.[4] While described as "glow in the dark"[4] the lambs only glowed when exposed to ultraviolet light.[3]
Birth
[edit]One of the original lambs, Emeraude, gave birth in 2014 to a lamb named Rubis who also carried the GFP gene.[5] However, while Rubis carried the gene, its traits were not visible in her, and so she did not glow.[6]
Disappearance
[edit]In August 2014, Rubis was sent to a Parisian slaughterhouse, along with other lambs that had not been genetically modified.[7] Rubis' carcass was then sold by the slaughterhouse to an unknown person in November.[8]
The Institute of Animal Reproduction believed she was transferred as a "malicious act by unknown employees"[9] and agricultural minister Stéphane Le Foll called it a "deliberate act of malice."[10] The case was investigated by a public health court in Paris.[11]
It was later reported that a "disgruntled employee" who wanted to get his boss in trouble had his boss sign a delivery note for several lambs which had not been chosen for experiments, but including Rubis, to be sent to the slaughterhouse.[12] Several days later, the boss realised what had happened but did not report the mistake.[12]
Response
[edit]The news caused worry in France because of general fears over genetically modified foods.[13] GMF are particularly disliked in France,[9] and have been banned since the early 2000s.[14] Benoît Malpaux, the president of the Institute of Animal Reproduction said there would be no danger to the eater if Rubis was consumed.[5]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ↑ Her name is sometimes translated as Ruby in English reports
References
[edit]- 1 2 Gonzalez, Robbie (2013-04-29). "Scientists have engineered the world's first glow-in-the dark sheep". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Digital, G. L. P. (2013-04-29). "Uruguay scientists genetically modify sheeps to glow in the dark". Genetic Literacy Project. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- 1 2 "Glowing lambs born in Uruguay". CNN. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- 1 2 "'Glowing' sheep herald medical breakthroughs". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- 1 2 Willsher, Kim (2015-06-23). "Lamb with jellyfish gene 'may have been deliberately sent to abattoir'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Jublin, Matthieu (2015-06-23). "Somebody in France Probably Ate a Lamb Genetically Modified to Have a Jellyfish Gene". VICE. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Thompson, Helen. "A Genetically Modified Sheep was Sent to a Slaughter House and Sold for Meat". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Toor, Amar (2015-06-23). "Someone in France ate a fluorescent lamb with jellyfish DNA". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- 1 2 Bolton, Doug (2015-06-23). "Investigation opened in France after lamb genetically modified with jellyfish protein sold as meat". The Independent.
- ↑ Michail, Niamh (2015-06-29). "GM 'jellyfish lamb' enters French food chain". FoodNavigator.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ "Genetically Modified 'Jellyfish Lamb' May Have Been Sold as Meat in France". Newsweek. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- 1 2 "'Jellyfish-lamb' sold as meat in France". France 24. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ Venton, Danielle. "You'd Be Fine if You Ate the French Mutant Lamb". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ↑ "Genetically Modified Lamb with Jellyfish Protein Accidentally Sold as Meat in Paris". IFLScience. 2015-06-23. Retrieved 2025-08-28.