Japanese scientists create mice with no fear of cats

[Akoto]

Tom and Jerry just wouldn't have been the same if it had featured one of Ko Kobayakawa's mice.

The Tokyo University professor has just unveiled mutant mice that have lost their innate fear of cats.

Rather than flee or freeze when confronted with their feline enemy, the mice sniffed and even played with them, blissfully unaware of the potential dangers.

Kobayakawa developed the fearless mice by shutting down receptors in their olfactory bulb - the area of the brain that processes information about smells - which would normally induce panic as soon as they get so much as a whiff of a cat.

LINK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/japan/story/0,,2226236,00.html

[glowing]

1. Creation exits (LOL)

[sniffa]

2. this is just the first step in creating the army of super mice

they're technically not breaking their pacifist constitution, but we can't take the chance that they'll achieve their goal. sanctions through the UN Security Council may be in order.

[papau]

12. be fair now - those new cats glow in the dark - so perhaps the odds aren't changed that much :-)

[fenriswolf]

3. hmmm, sounds like a way to make super soldiors

who are not afraid of death. Or maybe a nonstop supply of sucide bombers.

[Union Thug]

13. That was my first thought too! n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Nam's Quarlo Clobregnny, Pri, Rmentdno?

From an episode of the old Outer Limits written by Harlan Ellison.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Now we'll get to witness Darwinism in warp-speed. How long do you

suppose this fearless-mouse mutation will last in the wild?

[flashl]

20. I am thinking of rabbits in Australia.

[devilgrrl]

5. Nice to see that science has been put to such good use.

:eyes:

The planet's dying and these assholes are creating super mice... :wtf:

[Boojatta]

17. Do you have a complete list of areas of research that are too

frivolous for you to tolerate managers who budget money for such research?

How about the scientists: should it be legal for them to pursue such research as a hobby or should they be required by law to work at least 60 hours a week in compulsory scientific service to the homeland to prevent them from having enough spare time to pursue areas of research in your list?

[devilgrrl]

25. You would mind listing the positives of this research would you?

Say, wouldn't it have been nice that they developed super mice that can't get cancer?

:nuke:

[piedmont]

6. It sounds like they also created cats with no taste for mice. nt

[Sam_Smith]

7. The cats are vegans. n/t

[Akoto]

8. No, their cats just glow in the dark. n/t

[rug]

9. Wait till those mice see the fluorescent cats.

http://www.kois.go.kr/news/news/newsView.asp?serial_no=20071212009&part=107&SearchDay=&page=1

[uppityperson]

10. Sounds like my gerbils.

[UTUSN]

11. That breed of mice ain't long for this world. They'll have to RE-created & RE-created!1 n/t

[Nikki Stone1]

14. Dinner!

Meow....

:)

[MrScorpio]

15. Maybe thoe mice should get with the mice who are infected with toxoplasmosis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis

Behavioral changes

It has been found that the parasite has the ability to change the behavior of its host: infected rats and mice are less fearful of cats - in fact, some of the infected rats seek out cat-urine-marked areas. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to sexually reproduce if its host is eaten by a cat.<12> The mechanism for this change is not completely understood, but there is evidence that toxoplasmosis infection raises dopamine levels in infected mice.

The findings of behavioral alteration in rats and mice have led some scientists to speculate that toxoplasma may have similar effects in humans, even in the latent phase that had previously been considered asymptomatic. Toxoplasma is one of a number of parasites that may alter their host's behaviour as a part of their life cycle. <13> The behaviors observed, if caused by the parasite, are likely due to infection and low-grade encephalitis, which is marked by the presence of cysts in the brain, which may produce or induce production of a neurotransmitter, possibly dopamine, <14> therefore acting similarly to dopamine reuptake inhibitor type antidepressants and stimulants

[mitchum]

16. Why?

???

[emilyg]

18. My cats are very excited.

Bring those mice to my house.

[BringEmOn]

21. Can they give the Democratic leadership an injection?

[Vinca]

22. Finally - a solution to our problem. LOL nt

[Batgirl]

23. I thought Chairface Chippendale already did this

on an episode of The Tick.

[bullwinkle428]

24. As KO said the other night, maybe they can work on Congressional Dems next!

"I'll be here all week!"