Scientists create ‘fearless’ mouse
A team of University of Tokyo researchers led by professors Hitoshi Sakano and Ko Kobayakawa have announced they have genetically engineered a mouse that does not fear cats, simply by controlling its sense of smell. By tweaking genes to disable certain functions of the olfactory bulb — the area of the brain that receives information about smells directly from olfactory receptors in the nose — the researchers were able to create a “fearless” mouse that does not try to flee when it smells cats, foxes and other predators.
In studying the genetically modified mouse, the researchers have concluded that the evasive behavior exhibited by mammals when they smell predators may be genetically hardwired into the olfactory bulb from birth, and not learned through experience as commonly believed. The research suggests that the mechanism by which mammals determine whether or not to fear another animal they smell — and whether or not to flee — is not a higher-order cerebral function. Instead, that decision is made based on a lower-order function that is hardwired into the neural circuitry of the olfactory bulb. However, in other experiments, the researchers demonstrated that mice with impaired olfactory functions can also be taught to fear their predators.
According to Professor Sakano, the research indicates that behavior in the mammalian brain is determined both by instincts coded into the genes and by “associative circuitry” that allows responses to be learned through the environment.
The results of the research, which are to be published in the November 8 online edition of the British science journal Nature, are expected to help scientists better understand the structure of the brain’s neural circuitry responsible for processing information about the outside world.
[Source: Iza!]
Well as long as they don’t release them and allow them to reproduce then everything will be fine
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It sounds like toxoplasmosis, except in that case the mouse is drawn to the scent of the cat…interesting stuff.
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Lets wait for dogs who are not getting crazy with prezence of cat ;)
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Does this mean it is not far behind and we will identify the gene to make us successful or lucky as in Harry Potter’s Flex Felicia potion? Or maybe even a financial wizard?
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Limextreme
Lol, as long as they don’t release them?
Well there is a knee jerk fear based reaction, devoid of thought
hmm
what would happen if an animal, devoid of the normal fear of predators is released into the wild????
IT WOULD BE EATEN
ITS OFFSPRING WOULD BE EATEN AS WELL
the only downside would be dead mice and fat cats
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I hope no public money was spend on this … I think it’s pathetic and if the team wanted to prove something to the world, they could have found a better test subject.
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I smeel a plot to secure jops in the pest control business. Now people who have cats will STILL a mouse problem.
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“Great! How long until we can breed stupidity out of people?”
– my coworker’
@ “Darwin” — You’re a moron, and your use of that name is nothing short of offensive.
@ Snowflashdrop — well, luck isn’t a real thing, so no. =P
@ ws — I agree! This could be useful for the pet industry!
@ erika — not quite, this is the deactivitation of a fear response routine, not the addition of an attractant.
@ limextreme — you really have to type fast to get first post, don’t you? Your comment doesn’t even make sense. If they released mice which didn’t fear predators, they’d go extinct in a heartbeat, as per CMM’s comment. =)
Okay, you’ve all been served. My work here is done.
– k8
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i love how they always choose cripplingly adorable pictures for these articles. “Scientists remove fear of cats in mice, create infinte cuteness engine”
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leve me a lona
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and why is the cat not attacking the mouse?
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the question is scientist are controlling the brain of mouse then why cat is not attacking the mouse, its bit confusing
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Darwin:
What an idiot. Who chooses to use the name of a DEAD GUY who had a ridiculous theory, then denied his theory before death?
Great choice of names… It really fits you.
At least the REAL DARWIN was smart enough to redeem himself.
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see you littel cute self.
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If you’re talking about the photo, it’s just a photo taken of the Internet, nothing to do with the experiment. It’s not that the mice in the photo is the fearless mice itself.
And please, swear that you’re not older than 15…
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Talking about Furqan in the last post, I’m sorry
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This will be interesting… I cant wait till some one decides to try perfecting the “super soldier” with this. Not just dealing with soldiers but animals as well. More times then not its fear that keeps them alive and keeps them from making bad decisions. I understand it holds people back from good things as well but I think something like this will only lead to something bad rather then good. But thats my opinion…
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Furqan
2007.11.14 ::: 3:04 pm
the question is scientist are controlling the brain of mouse then why cat is not attacking the mouse, its bit confusing
Alot of times if its a domestic cat the cat isnt trying to attack and kill the mouse they kill it while playing with it. There is a chance, that the cat is just not interested.
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No, the scientists are controlling the cat too!
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Hope they won’t allow them to reproduce. . .
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cute idea. There’s an old bar trick that illustrates this action in humans. You put a rattlesnake in a glass jar and bet someone that they cannot hold their hand on the jar while the snake strikes. It can be learned, but even people that have never seen a rattlesnake have a hard time not drawing back.
Chris
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This is baloney. Just watch funny home videos…a mouse that is raised with a cat won’t fear moat cats. Just like a cat raised with a dog won’t fear most dogs. I think the whole idea is silly. How about genetically modifying German Roaches so they DIE…you know- something useful.
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dosent the cat still eat the mouse? easy prey
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what a stupid idea and i hope he nibbles on your ear while you are a sleep dreaming about your mom……I mean my gosh!!!!!!!!!Please give me the name of the person who had this idea and i will be contacting him pretty soon………………………………………………………………
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It wouldn’t matter if they did reproduce. they would get wiped out first time they stepped outside there tunnel. And i hope the posters of this article, and the people posting stupid responses aren’t allowed to reproduce. EVER. It would be for the good of all mankind.
In the wild, a blond thought such as those would get the thinker taken out of the gene pool, very quickly.
_cute picture though :)
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so cute
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Well, if they do reproduce and go into the wild, they’ll probably all get eaten.
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