Modified moggies glow in the dark

Posted : 14-12-2007

A trio of kitten has been modified by scientists to help in the development of new treatments for genetic diseases.

The cloned cats, all of which appear fluorescent under ultra-violet light, will play a vital role in creating ways of treating genetic illnesses.

Created by a team of South Korean scientists from Gyeongsang and Sunchon National University, the skin of the white Turkish Angora cats glow red under ultraviolet light due to manipulation of a gene that produces a red fluorescent protein.

The development was announced by the South Korean Science and Technology Ministry, which revealed that the kittens were born in January and February and two out of the three had survived.

According to experts, the glow in the dark cats mark the first time that cloned cats with modified genes have been produced and other genes could be inserted during the cloning process to produce cats with genetic diseases and help in the development of human genetic diseases.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) claims that it is "extremely important" for owners to have pet insurance in case of unexpected veterinary fees, with pet insurance policies often not something that people think about "when they get their cute new pet" because they fail to consider what could go wrong.


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