See basic definition at Wiktionary.
Hypoallergenic is the characteristic of producing little or no allergic reaction. For allergy sufferers, a hypoallergenic pet would enable them to have a pet in their home, whereas most dogs, cats, rabbits, and other fur-bearing animals can make their lives miserable. The proteins that cause allergies are found not only in the animals' fur or hair but also in saliva, urine, mucous, and hair roots and in the dander sloughed from the animals' skin.
Some dog breeds have been promoted as hypoallergenic. The Goldendoodle or other Poodle hybrids do well for some who have allergies because they do not shed their hair. However, no canine is known to be truly hypoallergenic.
In October, 2004, the Los Angeles company Allerca announced that within three years it will be able to produce a hypoallergenic cat using genetic modification. At the same time, the company denied that it will be able to do the same for dogs, because whereas cats have a single gene that produces the allergenic protein, dogs have many allergenic proteins controlled by multiple genes.
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Last updated: 10-26-2005 08:54:01
