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Genetically Engineered "Smart" Mice

Posted by Hemos on from the newer-better-faster dept.

Lucius Lucanius writes "A smart gene that helps mice learn faster has been discovered. This follows recent discoveries about neuron generation in monkeys and the creation of doogie the smart mouse. Excitement abounds in the "smart pet" industry, but will it ever be applied to humans?"

4 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. Time to buy flowers ..... by taniwha · · Score: 5

    for Algernon ...

  2. from the hall of Duh. by deander2 · · Score: 5

    Come on guys, do we really NEED smarter mice? What happens when they "learn" what a mouse trap is? What happens when they "learn" to open the fridge? Come on, THINK before you act people!

    :-)

    --
    http://kered.org
  3. Smarter Mice by hypergeek · · Score: 5

    Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinky?

    --
    Stay up hacking each weekend. Sleep is for the week.
  4. Maybe, maybe not by para_droid · · Score: 5
    This reminds me of several things I have been thinking about recently:

    Evolution is not just about survival, it is about breeding. Individuals with poor genes may survive, but no hot chicks will want to fuck them, so they will not pass those genes on.

    Many 'nerds' and other less-than-prime specimens are able to attract women through their high salaries and material security. However, studies have shown that up to 50% of their children were actually conceived in extra-marital affares with hot young studs, because women have a deep instinct to get the best DNA for their offspring.

    Many people with what would be considered 'undesirable' genes are able to mate quite easily with other ugly, stupid people. Just look at an episode of Jerry Springer for evidence of this. There is a theory that these people are breeding faster (a girl's IQ is proportional to the age at which she first gets knocked up, and inversley to the number of children she eventually has) and therefore evolution is decreasing our average IQ.

    Many of the markers developed by evolution to pick out potential mates are actually quite accidental 'red herrings' that are now propogated through the mechanism of evolution, but serve no real purpose. For instance, one day a caveman decides he finds large breasts attractive. He marries a girl with big tits. All his children inherit his desire for breasts, and also look for wives with big knockers. Eventually, having large breasts is considered a desirable quality in a mate, even though it serves no real purpose.

    Abashed the Devil stood,
    And felt how awful goodness is