The Wide Angle: Top 10 Eccentric Transgenic Animals

Mammals that glow fluorescent colors. A fearless mouse. A goat that spins spider silk. These animals do not exist naturally. But thanks to transgenesis, a process in which foreign genes are inserted into an animal's DNA, they are around today. Scientists create so-called transgenic animals to investigate disease treatments, produce natural material and expand scientific knowledge.

Although the idea may seem freaky, transgenic specie breeding is controlled by federal regulations that require researchers to demonstrate that an engineered animal offers a scientific or medical benefit. Still, animal research remains a contentious issue, and a May 2009 Gallup poll found that 43 percent of Americans believe medical research on animals to be "morally unacceptable." Regardless of the controversy, these animals comprise a diverse group that hails from all corners of the animal kingdom and show a range of applications from combating disease to improving the environment. Here are ten of the most eccentric transgenic animals: