Here's a breakdown of their origin:
* Genetic Modification: GloFish are genetically modified zebrafish. They were created by scientists at the National University of Singapore in 1999.
* Fluorescent Protein: They were initially engineered to express fluorescent proteins, derived from jellyfish, to help researchers study gene expression.
* Commercialization: The technology was later licensed to a company called Yorktown Technologies, which marketed them as pets.
* Novelty Appeal: The brightly colored, fluorescent fish quickly gained popularity for their unique appearance and the fact they could be kept in standard aquariums.
So, while GloFish didn't have a practical purpose initially, they have since become a popular and commercially successful product.