Glowing bacteria created from jellyfish seems like part of a strange science fiction movie but that is what students have been doing as part of an ANU funded education program.

Throughout November students from Bega, Cooma, Narooma, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla and Moruya were lucky enough to participate in this program where they had the chance to conduct Nobel Prize winning science experiments.

The students had a hands-on look at genetic engineering techniques when they transformed bacteria by introducing a gene from the bioluminescent jellyfish, Aequorea Victoria as part of the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery education program, Glowtastic.

Students saw how they can introduce proteins into bacteria to alter its DNA. In this case adding in a green fluorescent protein and making the bacteria glow under UV light. This sort of experimentation won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

This type of genetic transformation has numerous medical implications as a genetic tag but also some fun uses such as the creation of GloFish, glowing pigs and rabbits and the new glow ice-cream. All created using jellyfish DNA.

The program was very well received with all students have a great time and loving the hands on approach to science.

Marine Education Officer, Jillian Riethmuller says “The program aims to inspire students to develop a better understanding of science beyond school and its many practical uses in society”.