Mr. Green Genes is not a conventional name for a cat, but it’s certainly a fitting one for this particular cat who under ultraviolet light glows in the dark. The six month old ginger cat glows as a result of experimentation at Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species. The purpose of the experiment was to learn whether a gene could be introduced harmlessly into the genetic sequence to create what is known as a transgenic cat. The research will lead on as part of the first step towards further development in ways to fight diseases via gene therapy. The introduction of the gene to Mr. Green Genes had no negative side affects, and the decision to cause the glow was to allow researchers to see whether the gene went to where it was supposed to go.
Source: The Daily Telegraph – Richard Alleyne – October 2008
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