Yesterday Nature published a paper heralding the birth of the first transgenic non-human primates – in other words a genetically modified adult gave birth to offspring that inherited the modification.

Their birth offers to researchers the chance to use more human-like models for disease than the currently-favoured mice, or rhesus macaque (another monkey disease model, but one in which transgenic offspring have never been produced). The marmosets have been born expressing the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP). The neat thing about GFP is that it’s easy to spot – the marmosets have green feet under UV light.

But also, and this might be why they received just quite so much coverage, these marmosets are unbelievably cute.

Favourite headline/standfirst of the day came from WA Today, with “The green Monkeys are coming / They’re monkeys but not as we know them”

Coverage was generally positive, although NPR ran a story about 50 years since monkeys were sent to space, with a disturbing picture.

The cuteness of the animals will undoubtedly give animal activists new ammunition, and this warning is covering in an editorial to accompany the paper.

Coverage round up:

Nature (subscription required)

Nature News and Views article

Glowing Monkeys Could Generate Miracle Cures (Sky News)

Monkeys first to inherit genetic modifications (San Francisco Chronicle)

Monkeys glow with gene transfer breakthrough (Sydney Morning Herald)

GM monkeys with glowing feet could help research into Parkinson’s (Times)

Glowing marmosets raise genetic hops and fears (FT)