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Breaking News : Scientists breed allergy-free cat -

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mike - 07 Jun 2006 21:12 GMT
They've finally done it :

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/06/07/060607162523.fh3dnuyv.html

US scientists claimed to have bred the world's first hypoallergenic kitten,
opening the doors and arms of millions of pet lovers for whom cuddling a cat
has, until now, been a curse.

At 4,000 dollars a head, the allergy-free felines don't come cheap.

But the biotechnology firm behind the project believes sensitive owners will
happily fork out extra for the chance to have a cat that doesn't leave them
wheezing and sneezing.

In a statement, the San Diego-based company, Allerca, said it had produced
the cats using a technique known as genetic divergence.

After identifying the genes of kittens with proteins that provide less of a
reaction in humans, they selectively bred litters over several generations
to end up with an allergy-friendly "super cat."

The company said its customers are expected to take delivery of their
hypoallergenic kittens in early 2007.

"For the first time, people who have been unable to own a cat because of
their allergies can now enjoy a pet of their own without the associated
risks and costs of allergy treatments," Allerca CEO Megan Young.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology,
approximately 30 million Americans suffer from some form of cat allergy.

Young said the company expected to be breeding 10,000 of the cats every year
by 2009.

The American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) gave a
cautious welcome to the Allerca announcement, saying it might help reduce
the number of cats abandoned to shelters by allergic owners.

"But it will also be important to monitor the long term health of these cats
to ensure that silencing the gene does not result in unforeseen effects on
them," the ASPCA said in a statement.
Barnabas Collins - 08 Jun 2006 21:49 GMT
>At 4,000 dollars a head, the allergy-free felines don't come cheap.
No thanks. I'll visit the local shelter the next time i'm
looking for a cat.   $4,000 is too rich for me.

>But the biotechnology firm behind the project believes sensitive owners will
>happily fork out extra for the chance to have a cat that doesn't leave them
>wheezing and sneezing.
Viist you're local health food store.  My understanding is people who
are allergic to cats can alleviate the allergies by changing the
diet and/or shampoo.

>Young said the company expected to be breeding 10,000 of the cats every year
>by 2009.
10,000 times $4,000 = 40,000,000.00
mike - 10 Jun 2006 00:56 GMT
Im surprised only 1 reply to this.  This is a breakthrough story.
mylenaptalf - 12 Jun 2006 23:28 GMT
It's an interesting story, but it sounds like the "breakthrough" is
merely identifying which cats are already allergy-free, and then
breeding them. They're not claiming to breed non-allergenic cats from
allergenic ones, it looks like.

Jon

My Lenaptalf Cat - http://jon-maxson.ic-nso.com
 
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