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Scientists Produce Fearless Mice

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the no-cheese-is-safe dept.

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."

3 of 499 comments (clear)

  1. Australia will win the World Cup. U-r-gay you suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    thats bullshit

  2. am i the only one... by doyoulikegoatseeee · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    that is outraged by this? this is stupid. i don't like to engage in slippery slope arguments but this is obscene.

  3. on testing by lrnzcpmn · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    It is just a waist of money.
    Test on animals (it does not make any difference which kind of animal) are not ethical (What is the point of this research ? So we can make a kind of super soldiers who can kill without remorse or fear? A great leap forward for mankind ! Or make some genetic modification so that anxious people are not afraid anymore... come one people do we really believe that gene therapy or pills are the solution to everything? )
    Besides the results of animal testing are almost impossible to translate to humans , just because mice are mice and humans are well ... just humans.
    We should really question if we really want to fund this kind of research.