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Ever-Happy Mouse Sheds Light on Depression

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have bred a strain of mouse that's permanently cheerful, in hopes of better understanding and treating depression in people. By breeding mice lacking the TREK-1 gene, which is involved in serotonin transmission, researchers were able create a depression-resistant strain. They say it's the first time depression has been eliminated through genetic alteration of an organism."

19 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. Lets call him by mathi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pinky

  2. May not generalize to humans by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 5, Funny

    Deactivate a mouse's TREK-1 and it acts like it's on antidepressants.

    Take my Trek away from me and I get depressed.

  3. Re:How the hell... by Frogbert · · Score: 4, Funny

    There toning it down for the kids. By "Happy" they mean the mice are randy.

  4. Kill the damn things by DAldredge · · Score: 4, Funny

    Kill the damn things before they escape, learn to talk, and start asking us if "we are having a case of the Mondays"

    NO GOOD CAN COME OF THIS

  5. Exciting Applications! by Selanit · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, maybe the scientists can use this to their advantage. Something like this:

    PETA spokesman: You're abusing animals in your lab, you fiend.

    Scientist: But they're happy!

    PETA spokesman: How can they be happy with you jabbing them with needles every half hour? Among OTHER things.

    Scientist: Easy - they're permanently cheerful, no matter what we do to 'em. We engineered 'em that way.

    PETA spokesman: >.

  6. Re:a similar effect in humansth by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

    . . .just quit work and start smoking pot, eating magic mushrooms and dancing on the streets in the nude.

    Oh, wow man, you've seen me, huh?

    KFG

  7. It's a start by starling · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they can breed a Goth that's permanently cheerful *then* I'll be impressed.

    1. Re:It's a start by Tomfrh · · Score: 4, Funny

      "You don't know many goths, do you?"

      You say that like it's a bad thing...

  8. Re:How the hell... by RsG · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, like office workers and deadlines?

    --
    Erotic is when you use a feather. Exotic is when you use the whole chicken.
  9. Re:People are not Mice by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mice don't feel taunted by the universe, to figure out it's secrets.

    42, Dude. 42.

    KFG

  10. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  11. Re:So let me get this straight by andersa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Hmm..And on top of that, they are all features normally associated with overlords... .. I, for one, welcome them..

  12. Re:Today's Philosphical question... by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have you read Interview with the Fountainhead by Ayn Rice?

    Radical capitalist vampires? No, I haven't, but I think I might like to.

    KFG

  13. Re:So let me get this straight by Stripsurge · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scientists finally clued into what you're saying and decided they sure as hell didn't want any variety those "super mice" angry. All new "super mouse" models will now be forced to comply to the new industry standard in happiness.

  14. Re:So let me get this straight by kasparov · · Score: 4, Funny

    It is truly an exciting time to be alive...as a mouse.

    --
    There's no place I can be, since I found Serenity.
  15. Miranda anyone? by Ambush · · Score: 4, Funny
    So these scientists haven't yet seen Serenity?

    Wait till they get a look at the mice that end up like the Reavers!

    --
    There are 10 kinds of people; those who know ternary, those who don't, and those now hunting for a dictionary.
  16. Re:So let me get this straight by HarmlessScenery · · Score: 5, Funny
    It was on the cirriculum for my english class in high school. And I did read it.

    So, did that English course go well? ;)
  17. Re:So let me get this straight by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Scientists can now produce singing, fearless , cancer resistant, super strong , plague-infected, mice with human brain cells from artificical sperm. On top of that these mice are now happy?!

    Said mice were last over heard singing Monty Python's,"Always look on the bright side of life."

  18. Re:Today's Philosphical question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Thank goodness I had family/friends to point me towards medical care. Lexapro changed that like a light switch, and the depression (and anti-depressants) are just a memory. But for some the depression is chronic and the treatment will probably need to be permanent.


    And Lexapro can change your life too! Call 800-678-1605 or visit lexapro.com today!

    Lexapro can cause nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia. Most of the side effects experienced by patients taking Lexapro are mild to moderate and go away with continued treatment, and usually do not cause patients to stop taking Lexapro.