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South Koreans Clone Beagles—and They Glow

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 28, 2009 3:55 PM CDT
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(Newser) – South Korean scientists have cloned a group of four female beagles that glow red under ultraviolet light, the AP reports. The researchers inserted fluorescent genes during the cloning process, an achievement that could lead to advances in human medicine and science. “What’s significant in this work is not the dogs expressing red colors,” the lead researcher said, “but that we planted genes into them.”

The scientists have already started implanting disease-related genes during the cloning process, and hope the research could lead to therapies for maladies such as Parkinson’s. “This is a step forward,” a watcher said. “What is important now is on what specific diseases the team will focus on.” The beagles are the first dogs cloned with fluorescent genes, though the process has been completed with mice and pigs.

One of the dogs shortly after birth.
One of the dogs shortly after birth.   (AP Photo)
A photo of one of the dogs under ultraviolet light.
A photo of one of the dogs under ultraviolet light.   (AP Photo)
The world's first transgenic female dogs carrying fluorescent genes.
The world's first transgenic female dogs carrying fluorescent genes.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Rob
Apr 29, 2009 12:46 PM CDT
This isn’t about demonstrating fluorescent genes. It's about performing gene therapy on different organisms and fluorescent genes are just markers. Different organisms have different limitations and requirements. It’s why these techniques work in some cases and not in others. The more diverse successful ontogenetic insertions made, the better understood is the general process and usefulness of the procedure.
Zorro
Apr 29, 2009 1:20 AM CDT
Wow - just amazing how advanced HS studies are these days (yes, I'm a little older).
Doctor-Zaius
Apr 28, 2009 8:58 AM CDT
When the lead scientist was pressed for further comments he stated “Not only do they glow red but they taste delicious!”

On a human cloning pariah
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South Korea • genetic research • beagle • dog • animal cloning • ultraviolet light • fluorescence

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