CLONED TURKISH ANGORA CATS GLOW RED UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

South Korean scientists have cloned cats that glow red under ultraviolet light, as part of research aimed at developing treatments for human genetic diseases, say officials.

A team of scientists led by Professor Kong Il-keun, a cloning expert at Gyeongsang National University in Jinju, produced three glowing Turkish Angoras cats, say the country's Ministry of Science and Technology.

According to the Korea Times, the scientists added red fluorescence protein (RFP) genes to the skin cells of the mother cat. They then inserted the skin cells into ova to produce cloned cats genetically modified to contain the RFP gene.

"It marked the first time in the world that cats with RFP genes have been cloned. The ability to produce cloned cats with the manipulated genes is significant as it could be used for developing treatments for genetic diseases and for reproducing model, cloned animals suffering from the same diseases as humans," - says the ministry of science and technology.

The cats were born in January and February. One was stillborn while two others grew to become adults, weighing 3.0 and 3.5 kilograms.

"We found that the red fluorescent protein in all organs of the dead kitten, which means we have established an efficient way of cloning gene-modified cats. The technology will also help clone endangered animals like tigers, leopards and wildcats," - Kong says.

He says the technology will also help develop stem cell treatments - noting that cats have some 250 kinds of genetic diseases that also affect humans.

"Cats have similar genes to those of humans," - said veterinary professor Kong Il-keun of Gyeongsang National University - "We can make genetically modified cats that can be used to develop new cures for genetic diseases."