Posted 09.12.2011 at 12:37 pm
19 Comments
Glow Kitten
Mayo Clinic
Genetically modified glow-in-the-dark cats not only make stylish, futuristic pets, but now provide insight into feline AIDS as well. The cats were injected with an antiviral gene from a rhesus macaque monkey that helps them resist feline AIDS, along with one that produces the fluorescent protein GFP. The latter gene, which is naturally produced by jellyfish, is regularly used in genetic engineering as a way to mark cells. If the cats aren't glowing, then the AIDS-resisting gene might not have made it into the cell either.
Infection-fighting proteins called restriction factors, made by both cats and humans, are powerless against their respective versions of AIDS. But monkey versions of restriction factors, like the ones produced by the gene from the rhesus macaque, are able to fight HIV and FIV, as the viruses' counter-weapons are designed to fight against human or cat proteins.
The team of American and Japanese scientists injected the antiviral gene and the GFP gene into feline eggs. Almost all of the offspring from these modified eggs had the restriction factor genes, with both fluorescent and AIDS-fighting proteins made throughout their bodies. Cells taken from the animals were found to be resistant to FIV, and the team plans to eventually expose the cats themselves to the virus to see if the restriction factors will protect them. Proof that these genes can protect cats from feline AIDS would be a huge step towards figuring out how to protect humans and prevent HIV.
[BBC]
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mommy cat is wondering why the baby is glowing...
I like cats more than dogs. Dogs stink.
So how do I get one of the glowing cats?
Could they inject moose with this gene?
If moose glowed in the dark, maybe it could help prevent the thousands of accidents which occur each year....
I applaud the science that helps AIDs victims. My heart hurts a little to know these cats will suffer in testing. Still, I understand the testing of medical science is necessary.
Well the testing is for a good cause. No No not Feline AIDs, glow in the dark Felines :D.
I so want one, but then I remember back to when I had cats before, they run across you at night chasing each other. So instead of just feeling them and hearing them run around the house, you now see greenish glows running around.
I wonder if your Neighbors will think your house is haunted by ghostly cats.
Of course lost and found will be easy.
Missing Cat
cut and cuddling
goes by the name of green lantern
glows in the dark
If found call: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Note: Those who are thinking of keeping the cat, be aware it has super powers and is radio active.
i wanna get my cats spliced with the glow in the dark genes!
my cat would be terrified if he ever woke up one day and saw himself glowing. this is cruel. im all for the advancement of medical science but i just hope they treat the cats better than they treat the mice.
_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.
- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri
@JediMindset
You do realize that this step is necessary? they have to treat the cats the EXACT same as the mice or else they might have to find a new treatment every time they used a bigger animal, and then they might as well start with humans in the first place. but i will be looking forward to see the results of this experiment.
@JediMindset It said in the article that the gene was introduced when the kittens were just a fertilised egg. That means that they were born glowing. So unless your kitten is still an egg cell, I don't think that it will be genetically engineered.
"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."
~ Carl Sagan
www.mrboab.wordpress.com
I so want to have one of these kittens =)
They could proably almost finance their experiments (the cat portion, not the whole thing) by selling off some a few litters of glow-in-the-dark kittens
I hate to burst everyones bubble, but these cats only fluoresce when under a UV light. So while they'd look pretty awesome in say a club with blacklights, they're compeltely normal looking in any other circumstance.
@wltstab1
yes a necessary step. i guess its not that terrible. as long as the kittens are still adoptable.
_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.
- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri
@quantumwarrior
lol good point.
_________________
The people of the world only divide into two kinds, One sort with brains who hold no religion, The other with religion and no brain.
- Abu-al-Ala al-Marri
Maybe the birds will be able to see the cats coming if they're glowing...
-Spouting a fountain of nonsense since 1995-
Traditionally cats hunt at night and are stealthy. I suppose if this kitty escaped and manage to be prolific, hunting food in the cities where there is much Florissant lights would be a problem. My immagination wonders, yes.
Cure to aids = Glow in the dark humans
This is the great proof that nowadays apps can meet any of our needs. And it`s my mere belief that a tool might come up on the market designed to do a certain thing, then it gets upgraded with a series of properties that make it overall much more efficient. Look what happened to the traditional invoices. Things have evolved into a distinct performance dimension and you can easily get a free invoice template online these days. Here`s how it goes with the latest technological trends: you buy less tools that cover as many options as possible.
US Patent 5676977 Check it out PLEASE!