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Hypoallergenic Cats

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the good-use-of-science dept.

Lambticc writes "The BBC is running an article about how a US firm has successfully bred cats to reduce the production of the protein which causes an allergic reaction. Since the result was achieved through selective breeding, there should not be any complaints from the anti-GM lobby." From the article: "The cats will not cause the red eyes, sneezing and even asthma that some cat allergy sufferers experience, except in the most acute cases. Despite costing $3,950 (£2,104), there is already a waiting list to get one. Allerca first started taking orders for genetically engineered hypoallergenic cats back in 2004."

3 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. Dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    You already reported it in 2004.

    1. Re:Dupe by TekPolitik · · Score: 3, Informative

      It wasn't even new then. There's an entire breed, called Siberians, that have been known to have this quality. All that seems to have happened here is selective cross-breading to get it into other more conventional species.

  2. Re:Patents? by Duckz · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can only get spayed or neutered animals from them.