Posted on 09/13/2011 11:13:45 AM PDT by Red Badger
Black cats may be unlucky, but what about a glowing cat?
Phosphorescent felines were created by Mayo Clinic researchers to help in the fight against AIDS in both cats and humans. The cats were genetically engineered to carry a protein that defends them from infection by the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the cat version of HIV.
The cats glow because of a jellyfish gene inserted along with the FIV-resistance gene. If the genetically modified mouser glowed an eerie green, the researchers knew it was also resistant to FIV.
"One of the best things about this biomedical research is that it is aimed at benefiting both human and feline health," says Eric Poeschla, molecular biologist at the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study published in Nature Methods.
"It can help cats as much as people," said Poeschla in a press release.
The gene that protected the transgenic tabbies from FIV was originally from a type of monkey, the rhesus macaque. Since cross-breeding a cat and a monkey was impossible (not to mention even weirder and creepier than a glowing cat) the scientists had to use genetic engineering to put the rhesus' genetic pieces into the cats.
They used a technique known as gamete-targeted lentiviral transgenesis. The tongue-twister technique involved inserting the desired gene into the cat's eggs before sperm fertilization.
The resulting kittens produced the macaque's protein, a restriction factor known as TRIMCyp, as well as the jellyfish's glow in the dark chemical, known as green fluorescent protein.
Glowing cat face Not only did the first generation of kittens come out luminescent and FIV-resistant, the new genes were passed on to their offspring. The phosphorescent fur-balls were healthy and thriving, report the Mayo Clinic scientists.
Though this technique is not a direct treatment for FIV, HIV, or AIDS, it will help researchers understand how the proteins known as restriction factors can be used in gene therapy. Since FIV is similar to HIV, the luminescent cats could shed light on treatments for both diseases.
As cool as having a glowing cat would be, don't expect to see phosphorescent felines at the pet store. Genetically engineering pets is highly controversial, and the Mayo researchers made these cats solely to help the fight against AIDS, not to be awesome additions to a Halloween party.
IMAGES:
One of the glowing cats from the Mayo Clinic study (Mayo Clinic)
The paw of a glowing cat (Mayo Clinic)
You’d kill ‘em giving them your coffee!
I think that’s pretty cool.
Deer seem to take to the stuff really well.
If it is sweet enough, deer will drink it.
If it is the coffee-like substance, it puts them into a bizarre state.
Yes, one person on FR actually did this during deer camp.
He is our blogger overlord.
My cousin who stays with me when he’s in the East says my coffee does that to him. But he’s bizarre anyway so it’s hard for me to tell ...
Cousins are odd normally.
You’ve seen how I brew my coffee, when I am allowed near a coffee maker that is?
Dose your cousin with that stuff and record the results, for science of course.
We may be on to something.
“We were fighting off the dopes who were believing this fraud. Do you remember that? We had some fun that day!”
My apologies.
For the last year and a half I have been under some physical pressure. I just need time to heal. It is slow and not fast enough for me, but I am coming along just fine. No complaints. It is just that it affects my short memory once in a while. I laugh at myself a lot. I may be looking for my glasses and instead open the refrigerator door and then ask myself “what am I looking for?”
I now remember.
Between you and me, the Judeo/Christian religions are healthy and very, very good. Our country was built on this philosophy. I just can’t stomach Christian religious freaks who try to convert everyone around the world to their way of thinking. It’s like Al Gore trying to convert ever one to believing in global warming. It’s no different. Global warming IS a religion for the believers as well as for the environmentalist, which is another religious cult.
Nothing disturbs me more than these freaks going into our Indian reservations here in Panama and trying to change and complicate their undisturbed happy lives.
I will share something with you:
Some years back I had a couple of friends over. We yammered into dinner time. I did not feel like cooking at the last moment so I ordered a large pizza for delivery. One of the things the pizza had among other yummy things was pork sausage. Upon arrival, one of the ladies sadly announced she couldn’t eat the pizza because or the pork due her religious Christian sect.
I calmly suggested that all she had to do was remove the pork off the pizza, which she did. She then proceeded to wolf the rest down. ..Even with pork juice droppings.
She was overweight then and still is. It looks like her basic religious beliefs did not get in the way of stuffing her face.
because or the pork = because OF the pork
I’m sorry to hear you’ve been ill; I hope you recover your full health.
Yes, we were fighting with some religious kooks who thought a 7 year old kid (or something), died, went to heaven, talked to Jesus and then returned to earth. We called it a fraud and were - of course - beaten up pretty badly, lol! I can’t stand religious frauds. FOX & Friends - for some reason - loves them and has them on at least once a week!
God bless you and feel good real soon.
Please keep in touch with me.
It is just I can’t run marathons right now or dance ballet...not that I ever did one or the other.
I’m doing just fine. As long as I am nasty as ever here on FR, is one of the things that keeps me going.
My very best to you and your family.
P.S.
To repeat:
Give them hell.
Cool looking cats, I’d love to have one. Would be neat to have a few, get some black light bulbs and play some Gino Vanelli on the 8-Track and off I go to the party. B-)
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