catbirdseat Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 A British company has used biotechnology to knock out the gene from British Shorthair cats that codes for a protein in saliva responsible for cat allergies in humans. Scientist have been using "knock outs" to model human diseases for many years (usually in rats and mice). This is one of the first to result in a "consumer product", a cat you can buy for $3,500 beginning in about 2007. Get your order in today. Article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 They still taste like chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 This is one of the first to result in a "consumer product", a cat you can buy for $3,500 beginning in about 2007. Transgenic fish with the gene for "green flourescent protein" (GFP) have been available for a while. Supposedly they look pretty good under a blacklight. Someone also made a GFP-expressing, hairless mouse which glowed under a blacklight, but that one wasn't destined for the marketplace. Quick definitions: Gene - A small piece of DNA that encodes a particular protein. It is the blueprint that tells the cellular machinery how to make a particular protein. Gene Expression - In order to have an effect, genes must be transcribed into RNA by the cell's machinery and then translated into protein. The proteins in a cell are the functional products of the DNA "blueprints". Transgenic - A small piece of DNA encoding a particular protein is introduced into a cell's nucleus during mitosis (cell division). The cell "sees" this DNA as a problem with it's own genome and tries to fix the problem by gluing the DNA into some random spot in a chromosome. Depending on where the gene was inserted, it may or may not be expressed. Knockout - Making an animal with a gene knockout is much more complicated than making a transgenic animal. One must create a "gene-knockout vector" consisting of a piece of DNA that is SIMILAR to the native gene, but contains a deletion or some other mutation that renders the gene non-functional. This gene knockout vector is then introduced into the nucleus of an embryonic stem cell (a cell that can divide billions of times and become a functional embryo). The DNA repair machinery of the cell sometimes (about 1% of the time) will recognize the vector as a fragment of its own genome and try to repair the damage by swapping the vector for the native gene through a process called homologous recombination. Embryonic stem cells that have undergone this homologous recombination are screened for and purified from the non-altered cells. The positive cells are then injected into a early stage embryo called a blastocyst where they become part of the developing embryo. When these baby mice are born, their bodies will be composed of some genetically modified cells, and some of the normal cells from the host blastocyst. With luck, the genetically modified cells will have been in the proper place in the embryo to become sperm/egg cells. If so, the offspring of that animal will be 100% genetically modified. Long process. -AlpinCloner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 How long until the process can be applied to otters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selkirk Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 Hypoalergenic nodders? What have you been doing with them Dru? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 I believe we will see genetically modified NODDERS before we see genetically modified OTTERS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted October 27, 2004 Author Share Posted October 27, 2004 Thread killer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 This thread has plenty of leg left. I mean, no one has mentioned GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SNAFFLES yet. Or how about: HORSECOCK made from BSE-knockout cows/pigs/chickens/mystery meat. Oh the places this thread could go! p.s. TRANSGENIC GIANT SQUID!!! Wave of the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted October 27, 2004 Author Share Posted October 27, 2004 If you could make a knockout dog, what would you knock out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 I'd knockout the poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted October 27, 2004 Author Share Posted October 27, 2004 So a dog with no anus? He'd get full of shit after a while and explode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selkirk Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 Could you knockout the whole humping your leg thing? ???? Such serious questions to ponder.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 How about making a snaffle whos teeth dont constantly grow So he doesnt have to chew all the time Save the red nutz Or a goat (Carolyn: goo-ot) that dislikes the taste of urine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selkirk Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 Why stop there? How about goats that like to carry packs? They could have all the urine they want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 How about a sheep with shorter legs, and softer wool, for Glassgowkiss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EWolfe Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 I'd just like to have a genetically-modified "knockout" girlfriend that was modified to be a ropegun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klenke Posted October 27, 2004 Share Posted October 27, 2004 So a dog with no anus? He'd get full of shit after a while and explode. So what you're saying is all us cc.com poseurs are dog's without anuses? Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashw_justin Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 I make you black market special kitty. 500 dollar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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