Birdsong Studies Lead To a Revolution In Biology 117
Smithsonian.com covers research that began with the study of birdsong and ended by overturning the common belief that adult animals can't produce new brain cells. "Deconstructing birdsong may seem an unlikely way to shake up biology. But [Fernando] Nottebohm's research has shattered the belief that a brain gets its quota of nerve cells shortly after birth and stands by helplessly as one by one they die — a 'fact' drummed into every schoolkid's skull. [Nottebohm] demonstrated two decades ago that the brain of a male songbird grows fresh nerve cells in the fall to replace those that die off in summer. The findings were shocking, and scientists voiced skepticism that the adult human brain had the same knack for regeneration. ... Yet, inspired by Nottebohm's work, researchers went on to find that other adult animals — including human beings — are indeed capable of producing new brain cells. And in February, scientists reported for the first time that brand-new nerves in adult mouse brains appeared to conduct impulses — a finding that addressed lingering concerns that newly formed adult neurons might not function."
Thank god! (Score:5, Funny)
Drink up, fellas!
Phew (Score:2, Funny)
I think I brain my damaged.
Bird brain (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Phew (Score:3, Funny)
Re:So now we can grow wetwear. (Score:5, Funny)
Op: Computer, please calculate the optimum trajectory to venus.
chee chee chee... working
Optimal path... CHEESE.
Op: Grr... Computer, please calculate the best stock to buy.
chee chee chee... working
Optimal stock... CHEESE.
Re:Thank god! (Score:5, Funny)
So, don't drink because it's now safer, drink because it makes you better looking, funnier, and completely impervious to insults.
Re:Thank Cliff! (Score:5, Funny)
In an episode of "Cheers," Cliff Clavin, the trivia-spouting, quirky, irksome mama's boy mailman is seated at the bar describing the buffalo theory to his buddy, Norm Peterson, the beer loving heavyweight bar stool sitting perpetual patron.
Cliff expounds his "Buffalo Theory" to Norm:
Well, you see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it's the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.
And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.
Re:fat cells and muscle cells, too? (Score:2, Funny)
Each person only has 1 muscle cell that grows larger as they work out.
Ah yes, the love muscle...In most slashdotters this is pretty well atrophied from disuse - at least until the pics of a statue of a naked natalie portman covered in hot grits shows up on the intertubes.
Re:Thank god! (Score:1, Funny)
Yes doctor!
Re:Bird brain (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Thank Cliff! (Score:3, Funny)
Oh. And here I thought alcohol slowed down the whole herd, making the weak ones in the back (for once!) just as fast as the regular ones...
How did you get that many buffalo drunk?