FROM The HUFFINGTON POST, 13 December 2007

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean scientists have cloned cats that glow red when exposed to ultraviolet rays, an achievement that could help develop cures for human genetic diseases, the Science and Technology Ministry said.

Three Turkish Angora cats were born in January and February through cloning with a gene that produces a red fluorescent protein that makes them glow in dark. One died at birth, but the two others survived, the ministry said.

The ministry claimed it was the first time cats with modified genes have been cloned.

Scientists from Gyeongsang National University and Sunchon National University took skin cells from a cat and inserted the fluorescent gene into them before transplanting the genetically modified cells into eggs.

"Cats have similar genes to those of humans," said veterinary professor Kong Il-keun of Gyeongsang National University. "We can make genetically modified cats that can be used to develop new cures for genetic diseases."

Keitaro Kato, a geneticist at Kinki University in western Japan who has cloned fish, said the research could be significant if it eventually helps treat people with hereditary diseases.

Make them glow in the dark so we can avoid sex with those genetic inferiors, dave

"People with genetic disorders usually have to receive treatment throughout their lives that is very hard on them," Kato said. "If these results can help to make their lives easier, then I think it's a wonderful thing."

South Korea's scientific reputation suffered a heavy blow after much-hailed stem-cell breakthroughs by scientist Hwang Woo-suk were found to be faked in late 2005. He remains on trial on fraud and other charges.

That'd be cool, a glow in the dark cat!

Scare the hell outta the neighbors!

No more tripping over the cat in the middle of the night. Maybe a glow in the dark cat could reduce the number of night lights....

Easier to vacuum if the fur also glows.

Our cats would hate glowing in the dark. They seem to take a great deal of pleasure in blending it with their surroundings. This often leads to them getting stepped on, tripped over and even sat upon.... AND that's during daylight hours!

I was talking with someone the other night about this cat. Sadly, it doesn't actually glow, rather it phosphoresces under UV light.

Now what I'd like to see is an angora with a jellyfish gene or two implanted. Can you imagine handing out treats at night, with the lights out, with this eerie green-glowing cat walking around? Or at any time of the year, having such a cat jump out at you?

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ! I don't know where this offensive title came from. It has nothing to do with the article and serves only to raise the hackles of us cat lovers.

Bagoas (imported) wrote: Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:33 pm GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ! I don't know where this offensive title came from. It has nothing to do with the article and serves only to raise the hackles of us cat lovers.

Oh the lengths to which one could run with such....

But, we won't, since there are folks here, like yourself, who actually DO like cats - go figure!

Kristoff,

there's a series of book: 101 Uses For a Dead Cat; More 101 Uses For a Dead Cat; Even More Uses for Dead CAts; and of course - Cat's Revenge: 101 Uses for a Dead human.

It's like those suicidal bunny gags.

Or the SAM, the Ceiling Needs Painted Book.

kristoff wrote: Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:39 pm Oh the lengths to which one could run with such....

But, we won't, since there are folks here, like yourself, who actually DO like cats - go figure!

I do love our cats. They can be a bit of a pain at times, but then they can be great companions. Ours are so smart they can use the toilet, and so far there are only two problems: One, some times they beat you to the toilet, and two, they never flush!