Will There Be Glow In The Dark Pets In The Future?

In a world eager for designer labels, the next big thing could very well be designer pets, the kind that glow in the dark. In July 2011, Fox News reported that South Korean scientists had engineered “a glowing dog using a cloning technique…”. (1)

It sounds like something right out of a futuristic movie or “The Luminous Fish Effect” episode of Big Bang Theory, where Sheldon creates a glow-in-the-dark gold fish. (2)

In 2009, the scientists at Seoul National University in South Korea created their first glow in the dark pet (3). The beagle, Ruppy (short for Ruby Puppy) delighted everyone when she glowed red under ultraviolet (UV) light. (4)

With their latest clone, these scientists can turn the glow effect on and off. By adding a drug (doxycycine antibiotic) to the dog’s food, they are able to activate the “glow effect” that can be seen whenever the dog is placed under the UV light. (1)

It’s not too far a stretch to envision designer dogs available with various glow options. In the future, you might decide you want a pink Read more…