Scientists Produce Fearless Mice 499
Dotnaught writes "According to New Scientist, a Rutgers University geneticist has found that turning off a specific gene for the protein stathmin makes mice fearless. The story speculates that this research might improve treatment for phobias. It does not mention obvious military applications for the discovery. As noted in this Naval Officer's guide for managing fatigue, the use of amphetamines to stay alert, followed by sedatives to sleep, has a long tradition. Genetic treatments may offer an alternative to pharmaceuticals."
My Vision of the Future (Score:5, Funny)
These mice escape and breed in the wild. Enormous of fearless mice terrorize the world's cat population. It's not going to be pretty.
Like Red Baron (Score:5, Funny)
Won't somebody think... (Score:2, Funny)
There's already a fearless mouse (Score:3, Funny)
Now I'm Scared.. (Score:4, Funny)
AAAAAAAAAGGHHHH!
In other news..... (Score:5, Funny)
Anyone see Equilibrium? (Score:4, Funny)
Obligatory fearless mice joke... (Score:5, Funny)
The first one said, "When I see a mousetrap, I deliberately set it off, bench press the bar fifty times, then snack on the cheese."
The second one, not to be outdone, said, "Yeah? Well, every morning when I get out of bed, I stir in some cream and rat poison in my coffee. It gives me a good buzz that really wakes me up and gets me going."
They both look at the third mouse who, after a few seconds, gets up and says, "I don't have time for this bullshit. I've got to go home and fuck the cat."
Danger Mouse (Score:5, Funny)
He's The Greatest
He's The Greatest Secret Agent In The World!
He's The Ace - He's Amazing...
He's the Strongest... He's The Quickest.... He's The Best!
I hate you parental units! (Score:2, Funny)
Till the day when they have their own children, these second generation child mice reject their parents just like the previous generation rejected their parents.
Leaving killing the child mice as the only solution, before they become too grownup and strong to stop.
Thus putting an end to the whole experiment, as the original generation dies when they finally turn on each other in boredom.
laser mice... (Score:4, Funny)
Oh, never mind
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:2, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:5, Funny)
NIMH unavailable for comment.
Re:Isn't fear important? (Score:3, Funny)
Been there, done that. We called it World War I
Re:oh lord! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Apologies in advance, but... (Score:3, Funny)
I, for one, welcome our new fearless rodent overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted Slashdot poster, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground cheese caves.
I for one.... (Score:5, Funny)
Why wouldn't they be fearless? (Score:3, Funny)
A fearless soldier is a crap soldier (Score:5, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:5, Funny)
USB (Score:5, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Like Red Baron (Score:5, Funny)
DNA exchange.... (Score:1, Funny)
It was merely a DNA exchange with the fearless rats in the White House.
Nothing to see here, move along...
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:3, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:3, Funny)
They also have two cats. I tend to attribute all kinds of things to cats, and one of them is that they have a sense of what they're allowed to do and what not. I guess the cats figured that this bird was part of the household, and somebody would get very pissed if they harmed the bird in any way. Or maybe they just found the bird so scary that they didn't dare to lift a paw to it.
At any rate, we all figured that it would be good for the bird to get some exercise, so we would usually let it out of the case (somehow the bird had the decency not to shit all over the house, or try to eat everything it came across). One day, one of the cats was sleeping somewhere on the floor, and I was watching (to intervene should murder be attempted) as the bird approached the sleeping cat and pick at it with its beak. The cat stirred a bit, but otherwise paid no attention. Then the bird picked again, and again, until the cat eventually woke up, looked at the bird (who leaped back a few paces), and then decided to try sleeping again. Since that time, the bird has been positively annoying the cats, to the point that the cats wouldn't want to sleep in the room where the bird was.
Eventually, the bird flew away, never to return.
Re:USB (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Obligatory fearless mice joke... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:If the fearless-gene was beneficial for the mic (Score:1, Funny)
These already exist (Score:5, Funny)
The perfect mouse (Score:2, Funny)
In the end, Johan would only kill me, though. I guess that was part of the plan from the start.
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:2, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:4, Funny)
That's what the cat told you, wasn't it?
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:2, Funny)
Wait a second... (Score:3, Funny)
Rutgers? Didn't we read about them loosing three plague mice into the wild [slashdot.org] a few months back?
I don't know what these Rutgers scientists are up to, but I think we can all agree that "Fearless Wild Plague Rodents" would be an excellent name for a rock and roll band.
Re:Anyone see Equilibrium? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:4, Funny)
Dude, that was Tom & Jerry.
Speaking of bizaare experiences...
Re: Fearless mouse - powered by beer (Score:3, Funny)
Getzen
Re:My Vision of the Future (Score:3, Funny)
The whole thing seemed more like something from saturady morning cartoons, than something that would really happen. they continued to do this, but not with the same gusto as before.
Huh. (Score:4, Funny)
I for one... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Good old PCP (Score:5, Funny)
Ask your doctor if PCP is right for you.
Re:Huh. (Score:2, Funny)