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S. Koreans clone cats that glow in the dark
www.physorg.com ^ | 12/12/2007 | Staff

Posted on 12/12/2007 6:09:16 AM PST by Red Badger

South Korean scientists have cloned cats by manipulating a fluorescent protein gene, a procedure which could help develop treatments for human genetic diseases, officials said Wednesday.

In a side-effect, the cloned cats glow in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet beams.

A team of scientists led by Kong Il-keun, a cloning expert at Gyeongsang National University, produced three cats possessing altered fluorescence protein (RFP) genes, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

"It marked the first time in the world that cats with RFP genes have been cloned," the ministry said in a statement.

"The ability to produce cloned cats with the manipulated genes is significant as it could be used for developing treatments for genetic diseases and for reproducing model (cloned) animals suffering from the same diseases as humans," it added.

The cats were born in January and February. One was stillborn while two others grew to become adult Turkish Angoras, weighing 3.0 kilogrammes (6.6 pounds) and 3.5 kilogrammes.

"This technology can be applied to clone animals suffering from the same diseases as humans," the leading scientist, Kong, told AFP.

"It will also help develop stemcell treatments," he said, noting that cats have some 250 kinds of genetic diseases that affect humans, too.

The technology can also help clone endangered animals like tigers, leopards and wildcats, Kong said.

South Korea's bio-engineering industry suffered a setback after a much-touted achievement by cloning expert Hwang Woo-Suk turned out to have been faked.

The government banned Hwang from research using human eggs after his claims that he created the first human stem cells through cloning were ruled last year to be bogus.

Hwang is standing trial on charges of fraud and embezzlement.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cat; clone; glow
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To: Red Badger

LOL!


21 posted on 12/12/2007 6:35:38 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Reeses

I seem to recall that scorpions in the home are somewhat of an annoying problem in SW areas of the U.S.

Do people there put black light nightlights in their homes so the little creatures are illuminated?

I’d hate to get up in the middle of the night and step on one of those things while going to the bathroom if I lived in that part of the country...


22 posted on 12/12/2007 6:36:54 AM PST by chrisser (Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between “conservation” and the neutron bomb.”- Mark Steyn)
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To: Reeses

Chemicals that fluoresce (glow under UV) can protect from UV radiation by absorbing the energy and emitting it as harmless visible light.


23 posted on 12/12/2007 6:38:25 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (Is human activity causing the warming trend on Mars?)
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To: chrisser

Yep, they sell flashlights now for just that purpose. People in the southwest US coexist with scorpions like the rest of the US does hornets. They are not usually deadly but are a really painful annoyance.

24 posted on 12/12/2007 6:43:04 AM PST by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: Reeses
Scorpions can also take a direct dose of most bug sprays and remain unaffected. Its only when they consume a sprayed insect that the spray will nail them.
25 posted on 12/12/2007 6:48:32 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (ENERGY CRISIS made in Washington D. C.)
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To: Reeses
People in the southwest US coexist with scorpions like the rest of the US does hornets. They are not usually deadly but are a really painful annoyance.

Hornets don't climb into bed with you!!!!

26 posted on 12/12/2007 6:50:58 AM PST by logic (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
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To: OB1kNOb
Must....control...self...and....not....say....it.....

It makes it easier to find it in the dark?

27 posted on 12/12/2007 6:51:07 AM PST by null and void (things that are really questions are touted as answers.)
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To: logic

Hornets don't climb into bed with you!!!!

Who says???................

28 posted on 12/12/2007 6:54:20 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Red Badger

Men will forever be working on inventions that make it easier to find some...(kittens).


29 posted on 12/12/2007 7:03:59 AM PST by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: logic
You've never met my ex...


30 posted on 12/12/2007 7:10:49 AM PST by null and void (things that are really questions are touted as answers.)
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To: Reeses

“Scorpions also can take high levels of nuclear radiation.”

Maybe, but remove their stinger and they are defense less.

Yakety Yak.


31 posted on 12/12/2007 7:15:31 AM PST by 444Flyer (NEVER take a "mark" to "buy or sell"!Rev 13:16-17,John 3:1-36, Eph 6, Rev 12:11, Jer 29:13-14)
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To: null and void
You've never met my ex...

Pat, my friend sitting next to me, said that was a personal foul!!! :)

32 posted on 12/12/2007 7:19:12 AM PST by logic (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
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To: logic

Was it? I didn’t think it crossed over the line until I offered to introduce you.

Would you like to meet her?


33 posted on 12/12/2007 7:27:45 AM PST by null and void (things that are really questions are touted as answers.)
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To: null and void
Was it? I didn’t think it crossed over the line until I offered to introduce you. Would you like to meet her?

So Kind and thoughtful!! Sorry, I'm still trying to untangle from my last mistake.... and already have my next mistake lined up.... Will we ever learn???

34 posted on 12/12/2007 7:34:02 AM PST by logic (Support Duncan Hunter for the 2008 GOP presidential nominee. He is THE conservative candidate!!)
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To: logic

Not as long as we hear the hormones...


35 posted on 12/12/2007 7:36:44 AM PST by null and void (things that are really questions are touted as answers.)
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To: metmom; Slings and Arrows; Glenn; republicangel; Bahbah; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; ...
Warm furry nightlight ping!


36 posted on 12/12/2007 7:36:50 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("Bush is destroying the solar system:The ice caps on Mars are shrinking too." --Right_Wing_Madman)
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To: Red Badger

Not going to say ANYTHING about target aquisition.


37 posted on 12/12/2007 7:37:07 AM PST by Pistolshot (Never argue with stupid people, they just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience)
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To: null and void
Must....control...self...and....not....say....it.....

It makes it easier to find it in the dark?

Get thee behind me temptation! Not gonna say it! Wouldn't be prudent! LOL!

38 posted on 12/12/2007 7:37:51 AM PST by OB1kNOb (TBD.)
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To: Pistolshot

The Viking Kitties would hunt you down like a dog!............


39 posted on 12/12/2007 7:38:01 AM PST by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: Reeses

My uncle got stung in the foot by a scorpion that was hiding in one of his slippers. He said it was incredibly painful.


40 posted on 12/12/2007 7:39:25 AM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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