As part of an effort to improve treatments for life-threatening illnesses, a team of scientists have created rabbits that glow in the dark.
As
part
of
an
effort
to
improve
treatments
for
life-threatening
illnesses
,
a
team
of
scientists
have
created
rabbits
that
glow
in
the
dark
.
The efforts have produced two rabbits out of a litter of eight that went from being a normal, soft white to glowing green in the dark.
The
efforts
have
produced
two
rabbits
out
of
a
litter
of
eight
that
went
from
being
a
normal
,
soft
white
to
glowing
green
in
the
dark
.
The rabbits were born at the University of Istanbul as part of the cooperation between scientists from universities in Turkey and Hawaii.
The
rabbits
were
born
at
the
University
of
Istanbul
as
part
of
the
cooperation
between
scientists
from
universities
in
Turkey
and
Hawaii
.
The rabbits glow to show that a genetic operation technique can work efficiently.
The
rabbits
glow
to
show
that
a
genetic
operation
technique
can
work
efficiently
.
"The green is not important at all--it's just a marker to show the experiment can be done successfully," said University of Hawaii associate professor, Stefan Moisyadi.
``
The
green
is
not
important
at
all
--
it
's
just
a
marker
to
show
the
experiment
can
be
done
successfully
,
''
said
University
of
Hawaii
associate
professor
,
Stefan
Moisyadi
.
To produce the glowing effect, researchers injected jellyfish DNA into a mother rabbit's embryos.
To
produce
the
glowing
effect
,
researchers
injected
jellyfish
DNA
into
a
mother
rabbit
's
embryos
.
Then those embryos were put into the mother.
Then
those
embryos
were
put
into
the
mother
.
Similar experiments have resulted in glowing cockroaches and cats.
Similar
experiments
have
resulted
in
glowing
cockroaches
and
cats
.
Eventually, the researchers hope the technique can lead to new ways to produce medicines, Moisyadi said.
Eventually
,
the
researchers
hope
the
technique
can
lead
to
new
ways
to
produce
medicines
,
Moisyadi
said
.
"The final goal is to develop animals that are able to produce beneficial molecules in their milk that can be cheaply extracted, especially in countries that cannot afford big factories that make drugs, which usually cost US $1bn to build.
``
The
final
goal
is
to
develop
animals
that
are
able
to
produce
beneficial
molecules
in
their
milk
that
can
be
cheaply
extracted
,
especially
in
countries
that
can
not
afford
big
factories
that
make
drugs
,
which
usually
cost
US
$
1bn
to
build
.
Then they will be able to produce their own protein-based medication in animals," Moisyadi said.
Then
they
will
be
able
to
produce
their
own
protein-based
medication
in
animals
,
''
Moisyadi
said
.
The rabbits are expected to live as long as non-glowing rabbits, but Moisyadi said he understands people can object to this kind of experimentation involving live animals.
The
rabbits
are
expected
to
live
as
long
as
non-glowing
rabbits
,
but
Moisyadi
said
he
understands
people
can
object
to
this
kind
of
experimentation
involving
live
animals
.
"To the people against, I say: think, what are the benefits and what is the harm?"
``
To
the
people
against
,
I
say
:
think
,
what
are
the
benefits
and
what
is
the
harm
?
''
Moisyadi said.
Moisyadi
said
.
"And if the benefits outweigh the harm, let's go with the benefits."
``
And
if
the
benefits
outweigh
the
harm
,
let
's
go
with
the
benefits
.
''
Moisyadi started developing the project in 2006, and researchers are now waiting to see if pregnant sheep produce similar results.
Moisyadi
started
developing
the
project
in
2006
,
and
researchers
are
now
waiting
to
see
if
pregnant
sheep
produce
similar
results
.
As part of an effort to improve treatments for life-threatening illnesses, a team of scientists have created rabbits that glow in the dark.  The efforts have produced two rabbits out of a litter of eight that went from being a normal, soft white to glowing green in the dark. The rabbits were born at the University of Istanbul as part of the cooperation between scientists from universities in Turkey and Hawaii.  The rabbits glow to show that a genetic operation technique can work efficiently. "The green is not important at all--it's just a marker to show the experiment can be done successfully," said University of Hawaii associate professor, Stefan Moisyadi.  To produce the glowing effect, researchers injected jellyfish DNA into a mother rabbit's embryos. Then those embryos were put into the mother. Similar experiments have resulted in glowing cockroaches and cats.  Eventually, the researchers hope the technique can lead to new ways to produce medicines, Moisyadi said.  "The final goal is to develop animals that are able to produce beneficial molecules in their milk that can be cheaply extracted, especially in countries that cannot afford big factories that make drugs, which usually cost US $1bn to build. Then they will be able to produce their own protein-based medication in animals," Moisyadi said.  The rabbits are expected to live as long as non-glowing rabbits, but Moisyadi said he understands people can object to this kind of experimentation involving live animals. "To the people against, I say: think, what are the benefits and what is the harm?" Moisyadi said. "And if the benefits outweigh the harm, let's go with the benefits."  Moisyadi started developing the project in 2006, and researchers are now waiting to see if pregnant sheep produce similar results.