Listen & Learn: Glow-in-the-Dark Cats

Learn about the glowing cats in AIDS research

Pre-listening vocabulary

• genetic: relating to DNA
• immune: not affected by a disease
• reduce: to make something smaller
• modify: to change something
• glow: to give off light
• activate: to cause something to start working

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

In 2011, scientists at the Mayo Clinic began an experiment. They were trying to use a gene to prevent feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, in cats. FIV is genetically to HIV in humans. If scientists could use genetic engineering to make cats immune to FIV, they might also be able to reduce human deaths from HIV and AIDS. The scientists modified cat with an antiviral gene from . They paired this gene with a jellyfish gene that causes bioluminescence, which is a natural ability to glow in the dark. The goal of the “glow” gene was to help the scientists their results. If the glowed, the scientists would know that the antiviral gene had been activated. The experiment created three glow-in-the-dark cats with cells that showed immunity to FIV. These cats also passed both genes on to their own kittens.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. The main purpose of the Mayo Clinic experiment was
   a. to reduce the symptoms of HIV in cats
   b. to make cats immune to FIV
   c. to make cats glow in the dark
   
2. The antiviral gene came from
   a. monkeys
   b. jellyfish
   c. mice
   
3. The goal of the “glow” gene was
   a. to make the experiment more interesting for the researchers
   b. to attract media attention and raise money for HIV
   c. to test the results of the antiviral gene

Discussion/essay questions

1. Weird science experiments often make the news. Have you heard any other stories of strange or unusual experiments?

Transcript

In 2011, scientists at the Mayo Clinic began an experiment. They were trying to use a gene to prevent feline immunodeficiency virus, or FIV, in cats. FIV is genetically similar to HIV in humans. If scientists could use genetic engineering to make cats immune to FIV, they might also be able to reduce human deaths from HIV and AIDS. The scientists modified cat eggs with an antiviral gene from monkeys. They paired this gene with a jellyfish gene that causes bioluminescence, which is a natural ability to glow in the dark. The goal of the “glow” gene was to help the scientists test their results. If the kittens glowed, the scientists would know that the antiviral gene had been activated. The experiment created three glow-in-the-dark cats with cells that showed immunity to FIV. These cats also passed both genes on to their own kittens.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2a 3c