The South Korean scientists have made an important discovery for the treatments of human genetic diseases. They cloned cats by manipulating a fluorescent protein gene to study the genetically disorders in cats. The development will help in cloning an animal with a manipulated gene in future.

Kong I1-Keun and his research team at Gyeongsang National University have used the skin cells of a mother cat to create three cloned cats that glow in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet light.

The scientists have inserted a virus in the skin cells of the mother cat. Then, they transplanted these infected cells into the womb. By doing so, they showed a new way of cloning an animal with a manipulated gene.

It is the first major development in the cloning technology where cats with RFP genes have been cloned. The development will also enable to clone endangered animals such as tigers, leopards and wildcats. It will provide some vital inputs in the areas of stemcell treatments.

Via: Inventorspot