They're cute, white, and fluffy - and they glow in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light. The cats are actually clones. They're also the first cats to be cloned with a manipulated fluorescence protein gene.
The researchers hope that the procedure could help develop treatments for human genetic diseases.
The scientists, from Gyeongsang National University in South Korea, explained that they used the skin cells of the mother cat for cloning. To modify its genes, they inserted a virus in the skin cells, which were then transplanted into the mother's womb. Four Turkish Angora kittens were born in January, but two died during a caesarean section. The two living cats, now nearly a year old, weigh about 6-7pounds.
By demonstrating that it's possible to clone an animal with a manipulated gene, the research could help scientists better understand human genetic diseases. For example, scientists may be able to reproduce cloned animals suffering from the same diseases as humans. Cats have about 250 of the same kinds of genetic diseases that affect humans.
The ability to clone genetically altered cats may also help to develop new stem cell treatments for humans. And, using the same technology, researchers may be able to clone endangered animals like tigers, leopards and wildcats.
via: AFP
Lisa Zyga
Science Blogger
InventorSpot.com
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Woah
Submitted on December 12th, 2007 by Sarah OThat is freakishly cool, and a little scary!
Awesome
Submitted on December 12th, 2007 by jim (not verified)Hey... you wold never bump into your cat at night again! Just carry a UV flashlight.
Please stop being mean to
Submitted on December 13th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)Please stop being mean to animals and just leave them alone, humans are the craziest animals ever...torcher them instead!
You're an idiot. Do the
Submitted on December 13th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)You're an idiot. Do the cat's look like they've been harmed at all? Nope. Pretty sure they haven't been tortured (note the spelling, please)
You cannot escape kitty's cuteness!
Submitted on December 13th, 2007 by gavortnik (not verified)I am cute! You try to escape my cuteness by turning out the lights! I fool you! I glow in the dark! YOU CANNOT ESCAPE KITTY'S CUTENESS!
- The Cat
FAKE
Submitted on December 13th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)FAKE
THIS IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Jacqueline (not verified)To inject a virus into an unborn animal- to play with its genetics in such eerie manner....
To wipe out diseases, people must learn to heal their energy bodies first, otherwise the disease will come back -if not in this form, in another, and if not in this life, in the next. Treating a disease at the physical level only perpetuates it. We are all energy at the most fundamental level. Even doctors here in the States are already learning to work with energy healing because they are discovering just how effective it is- there was even a document shown on Discovery Channel.
THE MOMENT HUMANITY REALIZES THAT THEY CAN HEAL THEMSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO, THE WORLD WILL FREE ITSELF OF DISEASE AND SORROW. MY FATHER IS A DOCTOR & ONLY NOW HIS PERCEPTION IS OPENING UP TO THIS. DOCTORS FEAR THAT HUMANS WILL HEAL THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD BE OUT OF WORK.
Are you serious????
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Common Sense (not verified)lady, please.... this is something that is really really really smart. maybe you should open your eyes to reality. First off, these adorbale kitties are clones, but are not affected. I am a cat lover, very very VERY much so, ... okay? And second you can tell they arent harmed by it because they look normal AND they're at the right weight for their ago. So nothings is wrong. This experiement is a really good idea because think about it..... what if one of your kids had a deadly diease but it was curable because of this experiment? Would you support it then???--or would you let your own flesh and blood die? Welcome to the year 2007, soon to be 2008.
good idea!
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Brett (not verified)this experiment proves simply that cloning can be done sucessfully and that they know how to manipulate the genes. but what about the fact that CATS BITE, sometimes, couuld that not transmit the glow-virus?
wow thsi is awesome ive
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by lol (not verified)wow thsi is awesome ive always wanted a glow in the dark cat!!!
Not harmed but,
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)These cats could never survive on their own in the wild. Be kind of hard to hunt things at night when your prey can see you coming.
best
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by YVonne Blouin (not verified)this is the best coment on this page.!
stupid we are smart enough
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)stupid we are smart enough to find a cure and we are not superhumans, that could automatically cure ourselves by thought, stop reading your comics and come back to reality dumbass.
in response to the stupid
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)in response to the stupid energy lady, uhm, yeah... Energy also comes in the form of 120 Volts in your wall socket... try sticking your finger in there and healing yourself..
guys.. diseases happen.. i
Submitted on December 14th, 2007 by M (not verified)guys.. diseases happen.. i mean, people are going to die.. just accept it.. it really is ok.. no matter the manner of death.. you will die.. i will die.. we arent "saving" people.. we're just making them/us last longer.. why spend time and money trying to prevent inevitability?
I'm not for or against this experiment, I just wouldn't be involved with it.. The cats do seem to be healthy normal kitties though..
oh shit.. where can I find
Submitted on December 15th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)oh shit.. where can I find these cats?? I NEED THIS VIRUS TO FIGHT CRIME
Watch the video
Submitted on December 16th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)There is a video of the cats and where they are being housed. Sorry, but they are not living a quality life. I too am a huge cat lover and these are not happy cats. I understand the "open your mind" and all " for the better of mankind" stuff. It is a challenging choice. But, it does not mean that it doesn't pain me to look at the video and know that these cats are suffering. I just wish there was another way to have the scientific break through without having an innocent animal suffer.
Would be cool if you could
Submitted on December 16th, 2007 by Claire (not verified)Would be cool if you could buy these in the stores :).
oh meh gawd <3
Submitted on December 17th, 2007 by Lil Baby Girl (not verified)i think this is a cool idea so if u lose ur cat out side in the dark its sooo easy to find it... but i am worried even if they are clones if somethin messes up and they die cuz i love cats id do anything to have just one live.... i want a glow in the dark cat <3 lovelz!
A neighborhood full of glow in the dark cat
Submitted on December 17th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)would be really creepy. Like halloween all the time.
OMG :O
Submitted on December 18th, 2007 by Adele (not verified)cute cats.at first i thought it was only their noses.what if they did that with reindeer....rudolph the red nosed reindeer!hehe
this kicks all the comments
Submitted on December 27th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)this kicks all the comments ass
"humans are the craziest
Submitted on January 3rd, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)"humans are the craziest animals ever...torcher them instead!"
My thoughts exactly! Are you volunteering? >:)
Their cute but...
Submitted on January 5th, 2008 by billy joe bob (not verified)eeeeee v v iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii l
e v v i l
eeee v v i l
e v v i l
eeeeee v iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllllllllllllllllllllll and they glow. THEIR COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Had a very shiny nose!hehe
Submitted on January 5th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)Had a very shiny nose!hehe
cool
Submitted on March 3rd, 2008 by Anonymousi think thats really cool
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted on March 3rd, 2008 by Anonymousthis is really trippy i like this a hole lot
CUTE!!
Submitted on April 23rd, 2008 by Anonymousthese rrrrrrr soooooooooooooooo cute!!!!
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