A new study to come from the US has seen the production of 'glow in the dark' cats to help in the fight against HIV. The genetically modified felines were developed by researcher Eric Poeschla, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, by injecting fertilised eggs with a virus carrying the gene, green fluorescent protein (GFP).
The GFP gene, which can be found in jellyfish, expresses a green fluorescence when placed under a specific blue light, making the furry felines literally glow in the dark. These animals are not the first to have been modified with the GFP gene. Species such as fruit flies, mice, rabbits and pigs have all been successfully genetically modified to carry and express the luminescent protein in the name of medical research. In the case of the newly modified kittens, scientists hope to study the debilitating effects of HIV/Aids.
Professors Helen Sang and Bruce Whitelaw of the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh, claim that this new research could provide extremely valuable information on the study of HIV/Aids, "Cats are susceptible to feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV], a close relative of HIV, the cause of Aids." Head of developmental genetics at the Medical Research Council, Dr Robin Lovell-Badge also condones the use of cats in the study of HIV/Aids, stating that their unique susceptibility to the virus makes them excellent subjects.
The use of genetically modified animals in medical research however, has come under fire from animal activists and concerned members of the public. Despite the gene being harmless to the animal's physiological function, the debate as to their use in medical research continues. There are however, excessive restrictions placed on their use in laboratories and the use of cats as models for human diseases are limited and only justified if other appropriate models such as mice or rats are not suitable.
"Understanding how to confer resistance is...of equal importance to cat health and human health" says Dr Lovell-Badge.
While the kittens provide the development of new technology to help in the study of FIV, it remains that they are purely for research purposes.
For those of you that fancied a 'glow in the dark' kitten of your very own, you will be disappointed to know that they are unlikely to be the next big trend in exotic pets. Sorry.