Sunday June 21, 2009, 11:51 am

Scientists reported the first transgenic monkeys last year — a model of Huntington’s disease — but in these animals, the gene did not fully integrate into the monkey’s own DNA and was not passed down to their offspring. In this report, Erika Sasaki and colleagues used viral DNA as a delivery vehicle to introduce the gene for GFP into the DNA of the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. They show that the gene integrated into the monkey’s DNA and was successfully passed down to their offspring, which were healthy and all expressed the new gene.

Transgenic mice have contributed immensely to biomedical research, but for many diseases they are too dissimilar from humans for the results to be meaningful. Non-human primates hold great promise for the study of several human diseases, particularly neurological disorders, for which there are currently no appropriate experimental models. This study marks an important milestone on the road to developing the means to investigate these diseases.

In an accompanying news story, Nature News reporter David Cyranoski explains why other transgenic monkeys have failed to reproduce so far, and describes the 5-year Japanese project to develop alternative animal models of which Sasaki’s research is a part. Also in this issue, an editorial calls for researchers working on transgenic primates to go much further than they have so far in articulating the ethical aspects both of their research and its potential applications. Engagement in public discussion is essential to avoid inappropriate regulation

Sunday June 21, 2009, 11:52 am
Now cowboss is upset. Where does it end? and will it be with a BANG?

cowboss

Sunday June 21, 2009, 11:57 am
:(

Sunday June 21, 2009, 12:25 pm
Okay......too close for comfort. Is there an emoticon that expresses stark-raving insane anger? ^%#@*).......I'm there!

Sunday June 21, 2009, 1:39 pm
HOW DARE YOU POST AN ARTICLE ON CARE2 THAT ATTEMPTS TO BELITTLE THE INTELLIGENCE (AS WELL AS COMPASSION) OF CARE2 MEMBERS.

ANIMALS HAVE NOT "contributed immensely to biomedical research"... IT IS TAKEN, STOLEN, RAPED AND MOLESTED FROM THEM.

HOW MANY ANIMALS HAVE SUFFERED AND DIED FOR CANCER RESEARCH? AND THERE IS STILL NOT CURE!

THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION TO THE UNETHICAL AND BARBARIC TREATMENT OF EARTHS CREATURES BY HUMANS.

PAIN & SUFFERING IS UNIVERSAL.

LIFE = LIFE.

Sunday June 21, 2009, 2:34 pm
Whoa! I posted this story as a story that is published "out there" I did not pass judgment positive or negative. Are you suggesting that We All should stick our heads in a bucket of sand!? The story is out there -- if you have an issue with it, (I assume many will) Take the appropriate actions to end this sort of "Barbaric Research". In the meantime maybe read my profile to find out a little more about me. I am Offended!
Thanx
cowboss

Sunday June 21, 2009, 6:21 pm
I am upset too Ivan. Thanks for all you do for the animals.

Monday June 22, 2009, 1:08 am
Julie, I understand your concern but Cowboss only wanted to inform us about what is happening; he does not think we are stupid. His second comment expressed his disgust with this genetic testing, so please don't snarl at him...but at the jerks who allow this testing to take place! This article should send us all clicking on the petitions to end this sort of research.
Allez, quoi, keep cool... we can't bite each other if we are going to work together for a better world, hey?

Monday June 22, 2009, 1:41 am
thanks cowboss if i said what i think of this i'd be banned

Monday June 22, 2009, 11:14 am
I agree with Julie when she says:
HAVE NOT "contributed immensely to biomedical research"... IT IS TAKEN, STOLEN, RAPED AND MOLESTED FROM THEM.

The pain and suffering that these poor animals go through for the greed of medical research. There is no reason for it in the first place. The results will always be inaccurate as they affect them differently then it would effect a human. I have signed every petition out there to end this cruelty and have participated in several protests against the use of animals in medical research but I have little faith that this will ever end. As long as people see animals as only property and not sentient beings with feelings then humans will continue to use them for what ever purpose they see fit.

If scientists want accurate results maybe they should take some of the world violent prisoners (ie murderers, rapists and such) and use them for research. This would not only help to give the scientist better results but it would also help to deter most violent crimes from happening in the first place (who wants to go through what we make these animals go through??), free up some space for other prisoners and also free up some of the money we pay in taxes to provide care and board to these prisoners (after all when the research is done they would put them to sleep and dissect them to see what effect the research had - like they do on the animals)and lastly it would help to reduce the human over population of the world.

I know this might sound crazy to you but really the animals have as much right to live as humans and there is also the fact that as far as suffering goes - who deserves to suffer more - an innocent or those that prey on the innocent???

Of course this is just my opinion and like I said previously we all have a right to live (animal and human alike) but we (humans) do not have a right to cause pain and suffering to another in pursuit of greed or lust. Life is life and murder is murder and evil is evil.

Monday June 22, 2009, 11:21 am
LaJana
Thanx for NOT "Killing the Messenger"

cowboss

Monday June 22, 2009, 2:17 pm
ivan, i wouldn't tell people to read your profile because it really doesn't help. maybe, to better reflect your views, you could change "voice of the voiceless" to "advocate for humane treatment". it doesn't make sense to say you speak for something that you're about to kill and consume. it's like me calling myself the ultimate environmentalist, when i cruise through paper towels like they grow on trees.

Monday June 22, 2009, 2:29 pm
Catherine
You see, it is kinda like this -- Should I not advocate for the "Quality of Life" for the Wild Boar which is going to be "Slaughtered" by the Lion tonight. Both You and I do this, it just so happens that I also advocate for the "Quality of Life" of the farm animals as well.

Hope this helps

cowboss

Monday June 22, 2009, 3:07 pm
Ivan/Cowboss,

I am sorry but I do have to agree with Catherine on this one. You can not be a voice for the voiceless while you are still requiring that they give up thier lives to become your food. However you can still advocate for humane treatment or quality of life of your food sources. If you really want to be a true voice for the voiceless then don't eat them. Actions speak louder then words. Either that or change your words to backup your actions.

Hope this helps too.

Monday June 22, 2009, 3:16 pm
voice of the voiceless implies that you say exactly what they would say. i'm pretty sure those cows aren't saying "i know how hungry you are, go ahead and eat me".

Monday June 22, 2009, 3:27 pm
LaJana
I accept that You are unable to perceive me as a "Voice for the Voiceless", that however is not the way that I see it. It is here that we fundamentally do not see things the same way. This, in my opinion is not a good enough reason for us to fight amongst ourselves to the point that nothing is gained for the "true voiceless". I apologize in advance for not being able to spend more time debating this issue with you, I have work to do "for the Cows" and it WILL be done!

cowboss

Monday June 22, 2009, 5:32 pm
Ivan,

I am sorry that you think I am trying to fight with you because I am not. I am just stating how I feel as a true voice for the voiceless. In order to be their voice I choose to also take into effect their feelings and not just the quality of their lives. Maybe that is just me but that is how I feel and like I said above I am not trying to fight with you. I am just stating the difference between an animal activist and someone who is just into animal welfare.

So sorry again about our difference of opinion on this matter and I bid adieu to this thread.