Glowing kittens shed light on Aids - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/55306000/jpg/_55306350_55306349.jpg[/img] [quote=bbc] Cats that have been genetically modified to glow in the dark are being used to gain insights into Aids. The scientists inserted one gene into the cats that helps them resist the feline form of Aids. They also inserted a gene that produces a fluorescent protein called GFP, Nature Methods journal reports. This protein - which is produced naturally in jellyfish - is commonly used in this area of research to monitor the activity of altered genes. "We did it to mark cells easily just by looking under the microscope or shining a light on the animal," said Dr Eric Poeschla, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, US. The antiviral gene comes from a rhesus macaque, and produces a protein called a restriction factor that can resist Aids-causing viruses affecting other animals. The team from the US and Japan then transferred this gene, along with the one for GFP, into feline eggs - known as oocytes. The method worked so well that nearly all offspring from the modified eggs had the restriction factor genes. And these proteins were made throughout the cats' bodies. The researchers found that there was reduced replication of the feline Aids virus - known as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) - in these cats. Just as the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, does in people, FIV works by wiping out infection-fighting T-cells. FIV infects mostly feral cats, of which there are half a billion in the world, Dr Poeschla said. It is transmitted by biting, largely by males defending their territory, but companion cats are affected as well. The method could be applied to studying forms of Aids in other animals In both humans and cats, proteins called restriction factors that normally fight off viral infections are defenseless against HIV and FIV because the viruses have evolved potent counter-weapons. But certain monkey versions of these restriction factors are capable of fighting the viruses. So far, Dr Poeschla's team has only tested cells taken from the animals and found they were resistant to FIV. But eventually they plan to expose the cats to the virus and see if they are protected. "If you could show that you confer protection to these animals, it would give us a lot of information about protecting humans," the Mayo Clinic researcher explained.[/quote] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14882008[/url] Cute+Science? Awesome!

That's pretty clever. Also, nice pun.

whaaaaat, i want to glow in the dark

I didn't even know that cat aids was a thing

'good they glow in the dark, people will be distracted from us giving them cat aids'

As cool as this story is, and as happy as I am to see HIV research driving forward into new territory, I would still drop a load if I ever woke up to this: [img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/55305000/jpg/_55305878_image2faceclaws-1.jpg[/img]

Personally I'd love glowing cat.

Glowing animals are fucking awesome, I wish you could get one.

I believe they only glow under a UV light.

The moment I read the Science paper on this (I study this shit), I thought that people on FP would love to hear about it. Nice job. Also, if they start selling these kittens they would make billions.

Hey, cool. They also did it with monkeys, and when the monkeys reproduced, they passed the new gene on to their young. This could potentially mean that after a generational inoculation of AIDs, or any other disease, we could pass our immunity to succeeding generations. Or, that future generations of children will glow in the dark. I'd be fine with either. [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8070252.stm[/url]

Ahaah. ''Shed light''.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32254008]Hey, cool. They also did it with monkeys, and when the monkeys reproduced, they passed the new gene on to their young. This could potentially mean that after a generational inoculation of AIDs, or any other disease, we could pass our immunity to succeeding generations. Or, that future generations of children will glow in the dark. I'd be fine with either. [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8070252.stm[/url][/QUOTE] And in 50 years, I will have to chase dem glowing kids off my yard.

[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;32254008]Hey, cool.[B] They also did it with monkeys, and when the monkeys reproduced, they passed the new gene on to their young[/B]. This could potentially mean that after a generational inoculation of AIDs, or any other disease, we could pass our immunity to succeeding generations. Or, that future generations of children will glow in the dark. I'd be fine with either. [url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8070252.stm[/url][/QUOTE] rise of the planet of the apes

how long until these cats become available to the public

Amazing. I would not mind being a guinea pig for science if it helps people. Really, I don't. Well, if my situation is grave anyway, i.e. terminal cancer. I heard about some people who offered to be a test subject simply for researches and studies. If it helps people in the end, I'd do it.

Infecting kittens with AIDS? I mean I'm all for a cure for the damn thing, but animal testing is still wrong in my opinion. [editline]Lol[/editline] Well, as long as they don't harm them, or strip them or their freedoms. [editline]lol[/editline] Facepunch in a nutshell.

[QUOTE=Yzooo;32254157]Infecting kittens with AIDS? I mean I'm all for a cure for the damn thing, but animal testing is still wrong in my opinion.[/QUOTE] So, a potential cure/vaccine for aids isn't worth a few animals? Should we test it on humans or what?

I sense an incoming PETA problem.

Powercut? grab the kitty!

what a bright idea

my cat has cat aids :saddowns: he hanged with the wrong crowd and look what it brought him

[QUOTE=Yzooo;32254157]Infecting kittens with AIDS? I mean I'm all for a cure for the damn thing, but animal testing is still wrong in my opinion.[/QUOTE] God damn are you thick, we can get the cure faster by testing on animals.

[QUOTE=Yzooo;32254157]Infecting kittens with AIDS? I mean I'm all for a cure for the damn thing, but animal testing is still wrong in my opinion. [editline]Lol[/editline] Well, as long as they don't harm them, or strip them or their freedoms.[/QUOTE] They're infecting them with AIDS so their bodies produce antidotes for the virus or bacteria, then use that to research later on.

I don't think they could actually sell genetically manipulated animals, right? At least I remember GloFish being illegal in the EU (a couple of years ago when I looked it up). No idea about US laws tho.

Due to thread placement, at first glance I read the title as "Glowing kittens shed light on Trans-Humanism". Also, didn't they do something like this with a rabbit some years ago? (Just the glowing part, not the curing BIV part)

[QUOTE=Last or First;32254465]Due to thread placement, at first glance I read the title as "Glowing kittens shed light on Trans-Humanism". Also, didn't they do something like this with a rabbit some years ago? (Just the glowing part, not the curing BIV part)[/QUOTE] GFP is veeeerrryyy popular, it has been done with many animals The only animals with GFP that are being sold are GloFish. [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GloFish]GloFish[/url] [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_fluorescent_protein]GFP[/url]

What a shining example of the wonders of science.

Only science can draw a line from AIDS to glow-in-dark kittens.

How the hell have I never heard of glowing kittens before?