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
The antiviral gene came from a. monkeys b. jellyfish c. mice
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
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.
A stem cell is a type of cell that can divide into more specialised cells during reproduction. There are two different types of human stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are found in the tissue of embryos, and adult stem cells, which are found in fully developed humans. The main difference is that embryonic stem cells can become any kind of cell, but stem cells can only become cells for certain types of tissue. In recent years, doctors and have become very interested in the medical uses of human stem cells. Stem cells could be used to treat illnesses such as , and regenerate tissue in organs that would otherwise require a transplant. Research has even shown that it is possible to genetically modify adult stem cells to like embryonic stem cells, which would make it much easier to grow any kind of tissue.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Stem cell research is a bit of a controversial topic in some places. Why do you think there is so much debate about it?
Transcript
A stem cell is a basic type of cell that can divide into more specialized cells during reproduction. There are two different types of human stem cells: embryonic stem cells, which are found in the tissue of embryos, and adult stem cells, which are found in fully developed humans. The main difference is that embryonic stem cells can become any kind of cell, but adult stem cells can only become cells for certain types of tissue. In recent years, doctors and researchers have become very interested in the medical uses of human stem cells. Stem cells could be used to treat illnesses such as cancer, and regenerate tissue in organs that would otherwise require a transplant. Research has even shown that it is possible to genetically modify adult stem cells to behave like embryonic stem cells, which would make it much easier to grow any kind of tissue.
In 1975, a physics professor named Jack H. Hetherington wrote a paper about atomic behaviour. He was planning to submit this paper to a well-known scientific journal called the Physical Review Letters. However, when he was proofreading his work, he realized that he had unintentionally used the word “we” when writing about himself. Although this was a small , it was very problematic. The Physical Review Letters had a rule against the use of the word “we” unless the paper had multiple authors. Hetherington had written his entire paper on a typewriter, and he didn’t want to retype it all just to fix his error. Instead, he simply to credit another author. The author he chose was his cat, Chester. He changed Chester’s name to Felis Domesticus Chester Willard, shortened to F. D. C. Willard, to make it more . Hetherington’s plan worked, and his paper was published. Eventually, he admitted that the co-author was a cat, and even had Chester copies of the paper by making ink paw prints.
Comprehension questions
[wp_quiz id=”19503″]
Discussion/essay questions
Hetherington’s paper is now well-known, and has been quoted by many other researchers. Do you think that his paper would have been as successful if he hadn’t had a funny story to go with it?
Transcript
In 1975, a physics professor named Jack H. Hetherington wrote a research paper about atomic behaviour. He was planning to submit this paper to a well-known scientific journal called the Physical Review Letters. However, when he was proofreading his work, he realized that he had unintentionally used the word “we” when writing about himself. Although this was a small mistake, it was very problematic. The Physical Review Lettershad a rule against the use of the word “we” unless the paper had multiple authors. Hetherington had written his entire paper on a typewriter, and he didn’t want to retype it all just to fix his error. Instead, he simply decided to credit another author. The author he chose was his cat, Chester. He changed Chester’s name to Felis Domesticus Chester Willard, shortened to F. D. C. Willard, to make it more believable. Hetherington’s plan worked, and his paper was published. Eventually, he admitted that the co-author was a cat, and even had Chester sign copies of the paper by making ink paw prints.
