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Due to the increasing demand for orange flamingos (Phoenicopterus
ruber roseus), recent attempts have been made to alter the
pigmentation of the birds through their nutritional regime; however,
these methods have proved ineffectual. In the following study, we
hope to demonstrate a biotechnological technique that yields orange
flamingos. By transfecting the orng5 gene from garden carrots
into a flamingo embryo and placing the gene under a highly expressed
promoter, we aspire to generate a novel breed of orange flamingos.
Previous attempts to alter flamingo pigmentation have resulted in
failure. As it has been proven that diet effects pigmentation through
an excess of chemicals such as rhodopsin, beta-carotene and caretonoids,
Japanese sushi masters stationed world-wide have attempted to disguise
slices of carrots as orange shrimp. However, transfection experiments
designed for pigment alternations in flamingos have not yet been
explored. Only until recently have pigment alternations in flamingos
been considered.
   
   
The capture of wild flamingos is not an easy task (Image I).
Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus), in general, are very gregarious birds who live in flocks numbering
from a few individuals to tens of thousands within a group. Although flamingos are filter feeders (Animal Fact File),
defense of other group members can easily become a terrifying experience.
Indeed, the extraction of a flamingo egg (Image II) is also a traumatic experience (see Image III).
However, the transfection process from carrot to egg (Image IV, Image V) is less demanding (see Image VI).
We hope to have a successful transfection of the orng5 gene into an embryonic flamingo, resulting in the
formation of a laboratory-raised egg and thus, an orange flamingo (see Images VII and VIII).
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