Scientists from Gyeongsang National University in South Korea have developed a method for engineering and producing genetically modified cats. They cloned cats with a manipulated red fluorescence protein (RFP) gene. The research was conducted with the objective of gaining more information about procedures that could potentially help develop treatments for human genetic diseases. Cats were used as they share approximately 250 genetic diseases that affect humans.
In this study, immature oocytes were collected from super ovulating cat ovaries. Donor fibroblasts were obtained from an ear skin biopsy of one white, male Turkish Angora cat and were subjected to transduction with a retrovirus vector designed to transfer and express the chosen gene. 176 RFP cloned embryos were transferred into eleven surrogate mothers. However, only three of these mothers were successfully impregnated. Tests proved that the cloned cats were genetically identical to the donor cat. Presence of the RFP gene was confirmed through the detection o fit in tissue samples, including hair, muscle, brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, bronchus, lung, stomach, intestine and tongue.
These results suggest a possibility of developing new stem cell treatments for humans yet the area of animal cloning is one clouded with criticism due to the ethical issues involved.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18003942?dopt=Abstract
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