Look, glowing piggies. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

DonovanDuVal · 01-12-2006, 01:31 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4605202.stm

Quote:

Taiwan breeds green-glowing pigs
By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Hong Kong

When lit up in the dark, the pigs glow green
Scientists in Taiwan say they have bred three pigs that glow in the dark.

They claim that while other researchers have bred partly fluorescent pigs, theirs are the only pigs in the world which are green through and through.

The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo.

The researchers hope the pigs will boost the island's stem cell research, as well as helping with the study of human disease.

The researchers, from National Taiwan University's Department of Animal Science and Technology, say that although the pigs glow, they are otherwise no different from any others.

Taiwan is not claiming a world first. Others have bred partially fluorescent pigs before. But the researchers insist the three pigs they have produced are better.

In daylight, their eyes and skin are green-tinged

They are the only ones that are green from the inside out. Even their heart and internal organs are green, they say.

To create them, DNA from jellyfish was added to about 265 pig embryos which were implanted in eight different pigs.

Four of the pigs became pregnant and three male piglets were born three months ago.

Green generation

In daylight the researchers say the pigs' eyes, teeth and trotters look green. Their skin has a greenish tinge.

In the dark, shine a blue light on them and they glow torch-light bright.

The scientists will use the transgenic pigs to study human disease. Because the pig's genetic material is green, it is easy to spot.

So if, for instance, some of its stem cells are injected into another animal, scientists can track how they develop without the need for a biopsy or invasive test.

But creating them has not been easy. Many of the altered embryos failed to develop.

The researchers say they hope the new, green pigs will mate with ordinary female pigs to create a new generation - much greater numbers of transgenic pigs for use in research.

As if that wasn't enough, the reporters name is Chris Hogg.

Could this be the best news story today, this week, this month, this year, or ever? I for one am going to be hard pressed to top this. Although I am fickle.

What say you?

Fly · 01-12-2006, 01:40 PM

i wish i could fuckin' glow in the dark.........

Bill O'Rights · 01-12-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyman

i wish i could fuckin' glow in the dark.........

Give it time...give it time...

Isn't it supposed to be green eggs and ham?
In any event;
I will not eat green eggs and ham.
I will not eat them in a box.
I will not eat them with a fox.
I will not eat them in a boat.
I will not eat them with a goat.

I do not like green eggs and ham, or bacon, or sausage, or pork chops...oh, you get the idea.

vermin · 01-12-2006, 11:02 PM

Glow in the dark bacon. Awesome.

Eweser · 01-13-2006, 07:08 AM

So I guess they aren't "the other white meat"...?

Ishmal · 01-23-2006, 10:14 PM

heh.

i was just goin to post this story...

**bump**

except in General Discussion

01-12-2006, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fly see the links to my music? Location: Beautiful British Columbia	i wish i could fuckin' glow in the dark......... __________________ BASTARD SterlingStudios

01-12-2006, 11:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
vermin Indifferent to anti-matter Location: Tucson, AZ	Glow in the dark bacon. Awesome. __________________ If puns were sausages, this would be the wurst.

01-13-2006, 07:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Eweser Psycho Location: O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A	So I guess they aren't "the other white meat"...? __________________ "Whoever wrote this episode should die!"

01-23-2006, 10:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ishmal Wicked Clown Location: House Of Horrors	heh. i was just goin to post this story... bump except in General Discussion __________________ "Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular."