May 11, 2015 — Fish can produce their own sunscreen and copying the method they use could lead to a sunscreen pill for humans, says a new study.
The scientists from Oregon State University in the US found that zebrafish are able to produce a chemical called gadusol that protects against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. They successfully reproduced the method that zebrafish use by expressing the relevant genes in yeast.
“The fact that the compound is produced by fish, as well as by other animals including birds, makes it a safe prospect to ingest in pill form,” said lead author of the study professor Taifo Mahmud.
The findings open the door to large-scale production of gadusol for sunscreen and as an antioxidant in pharmaceuticals.