ournal Science--126 of the eggs grew into embryos in laboratory containers and 40 were transferred to 20 surrogate mothers so that each could carry two embryos. Five pregnancies, one of which were twins, resulted and three males were born live from the six fetuses. [The] set of fraternal twins miscarried at 73 days (150 to 155 days normal gestation) and a blighted pregnancy (implantation attempt without a fetus) occurred...The miscarriage is likely due to the twin pregnancy, which is rare and high-risk in rhesus (Science, p. 310, 311). Andi was the only surviving infant, because the other two infants were stillborns. To the astonishment of the scientists, the stillborns exhibited fluorescence when exposed to ultra-violet light; however, Andi did not glow when exposed to the light even though all his analyzed tissues, fluids, and cells--including lymphocytes, blood, and hair--showed the presence of the transgene. The scientists do not know if the fact that the stillborns glowed green had something to do with the fact that they did not live. Although the lone survivor, Andi, did not glow; his existence confirmed the incorporation of the GFP gene, making the experiment a successful one. Andis inability to fluoresce and the stillborn infants may be explained by the unusually common function of the retroviri. Retroviruses are notorious for inserting their genes in unpredictable locations, often disrupting useful genes or landing in places where the new gene does not work, said John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University (Post). The GFP gene is present throughout Andi, but is non-functional. However, the GFP gene is present and functioning within the other infants, yet it may explain their stillbirths. This implies that the technique may be faulty and gives credit to skeptics who doubt the significance of the existence of the ORPRC and Andi. The next obstacle for the team, in consequence, is to comprehend and control where the gene i...
