Cloned, Glow in the Dark Cats

eldavojohn writes "Well, you can finally get genetically modified cloned animals. South Korean scientists have shown it is possible to alter a protein via therapeutic cloning to 'artificially [create] animals with human illnesses linked to genetic causes.' The images of these animals are amazing. This research was headed by Kong Il-keun, the first person in the country to clone cats in 2004." There is always the chance that this is a hoax, but far too amusing to ignore.

Comments

I HAZ

[Arthur B.]

A COLOR !

Re:I HAZ

[Arthur B.]

Maybe by saying color I hurt the feelings of the Fluorescent Americats.

Re:I HAZ

[dgatwood]

Speaking of lolcats, did anybody else read this as "Stoned glow-in-the-dark Cats"? I think that would be much, much funnier to watch, personally.

oblig.

[Rob T Firefly]

I can has bioluminescence?

Re:oblig.

[mseidl]

Glowing cat
Glowing cat
What are they feeding you...

Korea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Now they have food-lit dinner instead of candle lit dinner?

hrmmmm

[BWJones]

Those images do not look like images representative of cloned GFP containing animals that I have seen. Rather the green cat look slike the image was taken through a green filter or filtered light and the cat on the left simply looks illuminated by a laser. Whether or not these animals truly represent transgenic fluorescent animals from these images at least leaves me suspicious...

Re:hrmmmm

[Rakishi]

The green one is NOT glowing and it even says it's an ordinary cat that's simply reflecting the green light. I'd say RTFA but is likely a purposefully done misguiding picture for which the article writers should be kicked for.

The red one seems to be the real deal as it only glows where it's fur doesn't block the skin. Granted it glows rather weakly but that may be simply because it's fur is not white (or doesn't appear to be) so it doesn't reflect the glow as much as say white mice would.

Re:hrmmmm

[Smidge204]

Don't forget that an external UV light is required, rather than the skin glowing all by itself. The hair blocks the UV light from getting to the skin, and any glow from what little does get through it blocked on the way out.

=Smidge=

Re:hrmmmm

[RingDev]

The red cat is either a rather good photoshoping, or the real deal. If the cat were being lit by an external source, the fur would reflect the light. But the fur appears to be blocking the light.

My best guess for the picture though is that they used a UV/Low Light amplification filter. Then they pointed a UV light at the cats, and stuck some kind of obstruction between the light and the left cat. Thus the right cat and the tips of the left cat's ears appear green, while the left cat and the left side of the right cat's body appear black (save for the UV florescence off the left cat).

The fact that it was shot with a Low Light filter, and further compressed via JPG, means that there is a lot of noise and artifacting in the picture. That much distortion could easily mask modifications. So I would say it's either the real deal, or a fake done by someone with a lot of time and experience in producing quality fakes.

-Rick

Re:Obligitory...

[QRDeNameland]

Yes, they run a little-known custom Ubuntu release...Fluorescent Feline.

Black light cats

[xPsi]

Because of the red fluorescence protein in their skin cells, the three Turkish Angola kittens look reddish under ultraviolet light, the researchers said. Calling them "glow in the dark" may be overstating the case. More like black light cats. Nothing like having a 70s poster that can scratch back while listening to Dark Side of the Moon.

Excellent...

[6Yankee]

*turns off headlights*

Good

[Hawthorne01]

Now maybe I won't trip over them as I stumble around in the dark, on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

And if we plug one into a light socket, will it glow brighter? Can I use one as a night light?

And just in time for Christmas

[alta]

I'll take one for the wife please. Can you make it pink? She really likes pink. And one that doesn't shed, get rid of the shedding gene. And how about one that doesn't need food, doesn't poop, doesn't spray, no claws and not moody. Hmm, I just described a stuffed cat. I'll take a stuffed cat please.

Ah HA

[Technopaladin]

If we put it in a box and dont look...will it still glow?

For research only

[heroine]

This is for research only, so U can see if a protein is expressed by attaching a UV marker to it. It also doesn't glow unless U shine UV light on it. Don't expect glowing cats in pet stores.

Re:formula

[stranger_to_himself]

I get it! Okay how's this..

"You call that comment a pointless refutation that has no actual substance? Hardly. Hell, give me a scientific breakthrough and an ignorant bastard and I'll come up with a better pointless refutation that has no actual substance."

Do I win £5?