Glowing Beagle Genetically Engineered in Korea

by Dr. Chris

August 5, 2011 South Korean Scientists have created a glow in the dark dog. They created the dog to help them better study certain human diseases. The beagle’s name is Tegon, and he only glows fluorescent green when he is under UV light.

The dog took 4 years and $3 million to make. They published how they did it in the journal Genesis.

But Tegon isn’t the first glowing pet. Other animals that have been created to glow include Mr. Green Genes, a cat, and a puppy named Ruppy.

Dr. ByeongChun Lee says that Tegon’s whole body glows.

The dog was genetically created using a 5 step process of gene manipulation. Dr. Lee says the purpose of creating such a dog is to better study certain human diseases.

According to Lee, dogs suffer from up to 268 genetic diseases that are similar to humans. Also he says other genes could be manipulated so that the dogs could become a model to study Alzheimer’s, Parkinson and more.

The dog does not feel any pain and acts and behaves just like a normal dog: see video: