Photo: Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center

[michael]

Bill Yannone and I had the privilege to tour the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center at the University of Kentucky this week. We dropped of some Ambystoma andersoni that are going to be part of a new research project. Here are some pictures of the lab. Thanks Randall for a great visit.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

Not as lavish as I pictured it in my mind, but great pictures. Me and some friends used to talked about the Kentucky Genetic Stock Center. Saying that we'd love to see how they operate and keep their salamanders. Now I really get to see what's going on! Thanks guys!
Seems like someone is undergoing surgery in that last picture!

 

[Bellabelloo]

Must have been an interesting visit. That axolotl with the dark gills is lovely.

 

[iChris]

research or not, I really do object to the keeping of any animal this way.

 

[Morrison]

Ooh that looks so interesting

 

[michael]

I've supplied a bunch of Ambystoma andersoni embryos and a few adult andersoni to the axolotl colony. Since I am supplying some animals for their research I received an invitation to deliver some animals and tour the facilities. I brought my friend Bill Yannone along to help as a driver, excellent bull shooter, and field expert on native salamanders. We had a blast.

They people at the Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center under the direction of Randall Voss are doing groundbreaking research. The animals are well cared for and thrive under these conditions. The clippings for regeneration studies grow back quickly. These animals are better cared for than ones many hobbyists keep. I'm proud that some of my animals are involved in research that could have some valuable applications in medicine.

Once we get past anthropomorphizing the animals are just fine.

 

[melfly]

That is one seriously gorgeous melanoid!!

All those axolotls...in different tubs and tanks....reminds me of my living room lol

Out of interest, this may sound like a dumb question and maybe i should start a new thread but...did you speak to any of the guys about the clipping they do? I just wondered if they mentioned anything about the axolotls pain in their legs etc
I had the unfortunate job of helping amputate an axolotls front legs (it was really the only option we had) I didn't feel as though the axolotl had experienced any pain during the process. He didn't seem at all bothered by it.

It just made me wonder if they actually expeience pain in the limbs.

Mel

 

[morphyrichards]

Here are some pictures of the lab. Thanks Randall for a great visit.

Random question from someone who is spending a quiet Friday night in watching trash on TV and brain wandering ... Looking at this amputation. If you were to place the severed limb in a specialised nutrient solution, would it regenerate a whole new axolotl?

 

[Morrison]

That would be a funny way of 'breeding axies'.

 

[Jennewt]

Random question from someone who is spending a quiet Friday night in watching trash on TV and brain wandering ... Looking at this amputation. If you were to place the severed limb in a specialised nutrient solution, would it regenerate a whole new axolotl?

Definitely not. That kind of regenerative ability is only present in some very primitive life forms, like slime molds and planaria. It's possible to "clone" frogs from single cells, but it's a lot more difficult than putting the cells in a special broth.

Michael - thank you for posting the photos. How many of these kinds of racks do they have, in total? I suspect we are seeing just one small corner of the facility.

I've heard through the grapevine that the AGSC keeps the entire building at a constant 68F and a constant day/night cycle all year round. (And despite this, the animals still tend to breed in the springtime - somehow they know). Any other such nifty details you picked up?

 

[morphyrichards]

Definitely not. That kind of regenerative ability is only present in some very primitive life forms, like slime molds and planaria. It's possible to "clone" frogs from single cells, but it's a lot more difficult than putting the cells in a special broth.

:kill: I thought as much but the idea did tickle me a bit.:happy:

 

[michael]

That's just a part of the lab. They breed year round but the success rate goes up during winter. The animals are anesthetized. Tyler is clipping Ambystoma andersoni in the picture. They don't seem to be bothered by the wound after they come around. The rfp on the containers stands for red fluorescent protein.

 

[RichardDial]

I have two GFP axolotls. I would love to have a RFP axie! Does the RFP gene come from a different species of jellyfish or a different animal?

 

[Georgimw]

So many beautiful Axolotl's and they do look happy in your pics! doing research for owning an Axie has caused some stumbles over their research wonders.... amazing is all i can say. And i bet they are being cared for better than some owners/sellers mad:shakes fist a local petshop)

 

[michael]

They look happy. One looked up at me and smiled. I don't know much about RFP. I doubt that it will find its way to pet keepers very fast.

 

[benh]

Cool! This is a very interesting thread :happy:
I'd be in Axie heaven if I had chance to visit somewhere like this - I'd be a mega-geek and ask so many questions!

 

[Greatwtehunter]

Does the RFP gene come from a different species of jellyfish or a different animal?

The red fluorescent protein is derived from a red sea anemone. In addition, there are also variations of cyan, orange, yellow, and blue proteins but I don't know if those have been used in axolotls yet though.

 

[NewtZoo]

Hey All,
The RFP (cherry red) is actually a synthetic derivative of the regular RFP. Also the RFPs will not likely make it to the Hobby any time soon as scientists get real UPSET when things things escape the scientific community. This is important to note because, if these animals "get out" to the general public then scientists tend not to share such incredible animals with their colleagues.
On the subject of pain, the axolotls feel no pain during or after the surgery. The first thing they do when they wake up is EAT EAT EAT, so if you want to know how they feel when they are knocked out please refer to "Herald and Kumar go to White Castle"

 

[joeysgreen]

Pain is quite subjective. While anorexia is a sign of stress, and pain is a cause of stress in many animals, it doesn't make sense to assume that there is no post operative pain. It is more likely IMO that they just deal with it in a less obvious way.

 

[Cas]

In my experience its pretty difficult to commercialise transgenic animals, but that could be slightly different in the US. I would probably chop off my own arm for a GFP bunny, or puppy but they are hard to come by. In my opinion though having used both GFP and DsRED/RFP in a lab GFP looks far cooler!

Im curious, how do they administer the anaesthetic? Are they like frogs and able to absorb it through their skin from the water?