Fluorescent Cloned Korean Cats

In an effort to develop treatments for human genetic diseases, South Korean scientists have manipulated the fluorescent protein gene in a cloning process that has left three cloned cats with a rather weird side effect: They Glow when exposed to ultraviolet beams.

“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,” the Ministry of Science and Technology said in a statement.

Cats have some 250 different genetic diseases that are similar to humans, so there is great potential in finding cures to various genetic problems.

This is a huge breakthrough for South Korea. They suffered some setbacks last year, after experiments the cloning expert Hwang Woo-Suk conducted, turned out to be fake.

By Ratty on 06-03-2008