Japanese scientists genetically engineer a mouse that is not afraid of cats.

[TheMightyFavog]

http://itn.co.uk/news/669348e26d1831919a478e4ce1550f6a.html

The remarkably fearless rodent is able to sniff a feline and even get underneath its paws without any worry.

Researchers at Tokyo University have managed to create the phenomenon by turning off the receptors in a mouse's brain that reacts to the scent of its main predator.

(snip)

Professor of biophysics and biochemistry at Tokyo University, Ko Kobayakawa, explained the procedure.

He said: "Mice fear cats because they are innately conditioned to express fear when they sense the odour of predators. So, by getting rid of the specific receptors for sensing the odour, mice never feel afraid of cats."

The pic accompanying this article is just screaming "I can haz dinna?"

[redqueen]

1. Cor blimey DM!

[Deep13]

2. The new variety of rodent was named the "borrowed time mouse."

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. I love the Japanese, I really do....

But at some point (maybe between this and creating the robot that plays a violin) I have to wonder if some of them have too much time on their hands?

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Yes, I asked this myself. Honestly, mice evolved the fear trait for good reason. Why take it out?

[The2ndWheel]

5. So that they can't do this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2455275

[Shakespeare]

6. Does it look like this?

[baldguy]

7. This is going to end well...