Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Glow-in-the-Dark Cats
December 12, 2007 1:55 PM
Please click on the picture to the left and bask in its warm (or cool) glow while you read the rest.
We're not entirely sure what to make of this story, but a team in South Korea says it has cloned two cats--who happen to glow red when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Just why would you want a cat that glows in the dark? It was just an interesting accident, says the lead researcher, Kong Il-keun of Gyeongsang National University, as quoted by the South Korean Ministry of Science and Technology. They were only interested in getting cats with something called red flourescence protein, useful if you want to track genetic activity in the animals.
From Korea.net: "'The ability to manipulate the fluorescent protein and use this to clone cats, opens new horizons for artificially creating animals with human illnesses linked to genetic causes,' a government official said. This, he said, can speed up efforts to find treatment and drugs by allowing scientists to study animals and conduct experiments that are not possible with human patients."
That or you're trying to get a really odd picture.
December 12, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (36)
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This is not new. Several years ago, scientists did this with other animals, only on purpose.
One example was the GloFish
Anthony
Posted by: Anthony | Dec 12, 2007 2:19:22 PM
Whoa!!!! Too cool! I want a cat that glows in the dark!!
Posted by: moosedog66 | Dec 12, 2007 2:21:50 PM
"an interesting accident" said the lead researcher.How many, not so obvious "interesting accidents" have been released to the wild by the bio-tech industry.
Posted by: dan | Dec 12, 2007 3:01:08 PM
Glowing animals. Well now the Republicans can hunt in the dark too.
Posted by: BronxBoy7117 | Dec 12, 2007 3:01:43 PM
This shows why cloning needs to be regulated. Although the South Korean doctor gave a very lucid explanation of why these cats were created - to track illnesses that affect humans - it demonstrates one of the dangers of cloning. Some vapid American consumer is going to want to buy a glow-in-the-dark cat. Without regulations and standards, cloning becomes "weird science" instead of scientific progress. People can be so unbelieveably selfish that they end up destroying themselves. It is sad.
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Dec 12, 2007 3:04:30 PM
It's great to see that great strides are finally being taken in the field of Mad Science.
Now if only they could get the Death Ray, Weather Machine, Flying Car, and 50 Foot Badger projects on track.
Posted by: QuestionEvil | Dec 12, 2007 3:05:23 PM
"Glow-in-the-dark cats! Get your glow in the dark cats!!! Great for Halloween!"
Posted by: Kelly | Dec 12, 2007 3:07:09 PM
Why do we do these things? Experiments sure.. but needed? No so sure.
Posted by: Molly | Dec 12, 2007 3:34:08 PM
WHY DID THAY RILY DO IT?!?!?!??!?!*&^%$#@
Posted by: payton | Dec 12, 2007 3:47:52 PM
If you read the last paragraph, you will see that the goal is to clone animals w/ GENETIC DISEASES to test them to find treatments. They would do this with animals because the experiments they would conduct wouldn't be allowed for humans. Its NOT MORALLY or CONCEIVABLE to conduct upcoming experiments on humans - but ANIMALS HAVE NO SAY. How WRONG is it for them to PLAY WITH INNOCENT ANIMALS LIVES BY TESTING THEM WITH HUMAN DISEASES???
Posted by: Kira | Dec 12, 2007 4:01:41 PM
Several years ago my mother was dying her hair black and our white cat was bugging her, so my mom drew a line down the white cats head. When the cat gave a litter, all the kittens had a black mark as well!
Posted by: AC | Dec 12, 2007 4:08:44 PM
The morality of experimenting on animals is drawn from a poor logic that the ends justify the means. People are so stupid.
Posted by: hatey | Dec 12, 2007 4:26:38 PM
The use of animals in scientific experiments should not be allowed or tolerated.
Posted by: Amy | Dec 12, 2007 4:48:17 PM
I think this is viral...Thik about it its christmas time!
Posted by: Graham | Dec 12, 2007 6:18:32 PM
Just moving us one step closer to a Glow in the Dark Godzilla and Monthra taking over the world...
Posted by: Christopher | Dec 12, 2007 6:19:32 PM
That fearless mouse made in Japan is so stupid. We all know the possibilities for the future of such a mouse. There is a difference between brave and stupid. The same goes for glow in the dark cats. That is just as stupid. When are scientists going to take responsibility and do some real and meaningful research? Their funding should be pulled for doing harm to nature. Just because something is possible doesn't mean that it should be done. Shocking is not the goal that we are looking for. With so many people in need, these are not things that we should be doing. Research the usefulness of plants.
Posted by: Daleri | Dec 12, 2007 7:31:18 PM
they weren't trying to make them glow in the dark...that was just a mistake
Posted by: lostsince1988 | Dec 12, 2007 7:34:35 PM
Now I wonder how many accidents have they made to these poor animals? Come on this is animal abuse here.
Posted by: bhsztl90 | Dec 12, 2007 8:10:38 PM
This grotesque "science" experiment is immoral. They will produce hundreds of malformed animals while they end up with one or two that live, usually a short sickly life. Cloning animals is big businesses way of taking over the production of animals by creating a special type that only they own and can produce, which is sterile so you can't breed your own. Big business is already doing this with seed that they sell. It is genetically modified (corn, soy etc) and cannot reproduce, so you have to buy the seed every year to plant your crop. This eventually will make us fully dependant on the likes of Dupont etc. Protest!!!!
Posted by: SDenault | Dec 12, 2007 8:28:17 PM
They're just animals. The chicken, beef you eat are also animals. There is nothing immoral about it. That's the purpose of their existence
Posted by: K | Dec 12, 2007 9:59:39 PM
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