Fluorescent Felines: Glow-in-the-dark Cats Aid in Medical Research

09/13/2011

Can't see your cat in the dark? Not for long.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have created three cats with a gene that makes their cells glow green when exposed to UV light. The researchers are hopeful that the fluorescent felines will speed development of strategies to prevent HIV/AIDS in humans as well as a similar disease that strikes cats. To create these glowing kitties, the scientists inserted a gene that protects cells against infection with the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) into cat egg cells.

Why is it necessary that the cats emit a greenish glow to make this test effective you ask? To track the progress of the gene evidently. To make the frankenkitties glow, the researches inserted a jellyfish gene that makes the cells glow green, and the green glow helps the researchers keep track of the activity of the gene.

The ultimate goal of this test is to create cats with intrinsic immunity to the feline AIDS virus. The research could lead to the development of cats that have "built-in" protection against FIV and possibly other illnesses, which could reduce the expense and inconvenience of having to take cats to the vet for immunizations. Read more about the study and experiment at Nature Methods.

This isn’t the first time scientists have created a fluorescent animal. Glow-in-the-dark fruit flies, mice, rabbits, and pigs have already been created.

Comments

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this is freaky!!

Posted by: sophie! | 09/14/2011 at 07:41 AM

please keep up the good work.

Posted by: misty & monet mommy | 09/15/2011 at 10:06 AM

This is a little eerie. I hope there is no discomfort or ill effects to the felines. I am so opposed to animal testing that causes pain, fear and discomfort.

Posted by: Gail Carroll | 09/15/2011 at 10:11 AM

Wow!!! Amazing!!!

Posted by: Thungchanpeni patton | 09/15/2011 at 10:29 AM

Testing anything on cats is wrong.The only positive facter here is it will be helping other cats.

Posted by: Aubrea | 09/15/2011 at 10:55 AM

My main concern is what happens now to these cats?? Once observations are made on a test subject the subject is usually euthanized... I would hope against odds that these cats are getting a good home, as interesting as they are...

Posted by: Melissa | 09/15/2011 at 11:12 AM

Scaaaaary...

Posted by: Joe_Jester | 09/15/2011 at 11:14 AM

Great

Posted by: Lipu | 09/15/2011 at 11:38 AM