Look out Tom and Sylvester, MIT has engineered a schizophrenic mouse. Apparently one percent of the human population carries a gene that can lead to schizophrenia. Researchers were able to replicate the gene in mice. The brains of these mice appear to be lacking the enzyme calcineurin. The study will now look at how to treat the mice who are missing the enzyme in hopes of developing more effective treatments for humans who suffer the same condition.
Perhaps instead of engineering schizophrenic mice, MIT could have started with gerbils. Every time I've been in a pet store that had a tank full of gerbils, there was at least one who was maniacally trying to dig his way out of through the corner of the enclosure. Perhaps the 'voices' tell them to do this. (wink)
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2 comments:
my kitty sometimes throws himself at the window when i am leaving in the mornings. as if he is begging me not to go. is he hearing voices?
Could be! In the past, I had a cat who saw things that really weren't there. I often pondered if lithium would make him a more well adjusted, albeit boring, companion.
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