Dogs glow in the night

Korean scientists have successfully cloned four dogs capable of emitting red light in the dark.

One of 4 Ruppy dogs under daylight.Photo: Daily Mail.

4 rabbit hounds - all named Ruppy - look exactly like other dogs in the sunlight. But they will glow if exposed to ultraviolet rays. Even the belly and the paws of the dogs emit red light.

Professor Lee Byeong-chun, who led the study, said these were the first dogs to carry genes that produce glowing proteins.

"Our research is significant at two points. First, the dogs emit red light. Second, we have successfully implanted fluorescent genes into the dog's body , " Lee explained.

Previously scientists in Japan, the US and Europe had cloned glowing mice, cats and pigs. But this is the first time people have successfully cloned genetically modified dogs.

The animal glows when there is ultraviolet light in the dark room.Photo: Daily Mail.

Lee said his team took skin cells from a rabbit hound and implanted fluorescent fluorescent light genes on them. They then put the cells into the eggs and put the eggs in the uterus of another dog.

6 puppies were born in December 2007. They all carry a gene capable of producing fluorescent proteins that glow. 2 children died, but the other 4 live now.

Lee's success shows that scientists can transplant genes that regulate certain traits into animal cells to create the animals they want. They can become experiments in disease studies.

The research team at the National University of Korea tested the transplantation of human-infecting disease genes during dog cloning. Lee said that the technique will help them find new treatments for genetic diseases such as paralysis.