• Question: Even though it is illegal, would it be possible to take the genes from amphibians and put them into humans. If you take the gene for the gills, would it be possible for humas to breath underwater?

    Asked by dong to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 26 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Philippa Bird

      Philippa Bird answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Well, in principle yes. BUT – genes work by creating proteins which perform functions and build things. But we only know the structure and function of 5% of genes in the human body, let alone a frog body! So you would have to very specifically know all of the genes you needed, and where to put them in the human genome, and you would need a way of processing the oxygen you got from that, and, well, basically it would have the potential to make a big mess!! But theoretically yes.

    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      That would be so cool…

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      That would be awesome, but I didn’t think that it would be possible. Pip’s given me hope though!

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