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Human DNA Enlarges Mouse Brains

Posted by timothy on from the what-about-vice-versa dept.

sciencehabit writes Researchers have increased the size of mouse brains by giving the rodents a piece of human DNA that controls gene activity. The work provides some of the strongest genetic evidence yet for how the human intellect surpassed those of all other apes. The human gene causes cells that are destined to become nerve cells to divide more frequently, thereby providing a larger of pool of cells that become part of the cortex. As a result, the embryos carrying human HARE5 have brains that are 12% larger than the brains of mice carrying the chimp version of the enhancer. The team is currently testing these mice to see if the bigger brains made them any smarter.

23 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. welcome by itzly · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome our new rodent overlords.

    1. Re:welcome by halivar · · Score: 2

      "He dared to tamper... in God's domain..."

    2. Re:welcome by Tablizer · · Score: 2

      I for one welcome our new rodent overlords.

      Well, I find it difficult to be so enthusiastic about our new Congress.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    3. Re:welcome by halivar · · Score: 2

      *I* got it from Mystery Science Theatre 3000. It was the closing line of (I THINK) a Harvey Corman flick, and it became a long running gag that Joel would say it whenever the bad guy died right before the credits.

    4. Re:welcome by halivar · · Score: 2

      LOL you are correct and I always always get them mixed up!
      "Look, it's Hedy Lamarr!"
      "HEEEEDDDLY....!"

  2. Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight? by robinsonne · · Score: 5, Funny

    Same thing as every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world!!

    Does anything ever sound like a bad idea to scientists?

  3. The Secret of NIHM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Prophecy. Pure prophecy.

  4. Creepy by Iamthecheese · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm not going to complain about "playing god" but this definitely approaches immoral conduct. Change this gene in something with a larger brain and you could create animals smart enough to deserve human rights. At that point the only ethical course of action is to give them said rights. The problem is the lack of a proper legal framework for such. Our science is in the 21st century but our laws are 19th to 20th. It's practically a very small step from this to sheep or monkeys.

    We need to start defining legal rights for intelligent, non-human entities immediately.

    --
    If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
    1. Re:Creepy by LWATCDR · · Score: 2

      I am not to worried about this test on mice. Now if they tried it on Chimps then things get into the very creepy zone.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    2. Re:Creepy by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      smart enough to deserve human rights.

      Human rights are not based on intelligence. If they were, my brother-in-law would not be allowed to vote. Stupid people and smart people are considered equal before the law, and have the same rights to life and liberty. Even brain dead people with no hope of recovery have greater rights than chimps.

    3. Re:Creepy by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      Oblig Simpsons Quote.
      Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
      Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
      Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!
      Oh, Dr. Zaius
      Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius!

      --
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    4. Re:Creepy by Defenestrar · · Score: 2

      Especially since bears already have the right to arms.

    5. Re:Creepy by penguinoid · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Human rights are not based on intelligence.

      They absolutely are. If we met non-intelligent aliens people would have no trouble treating them as having no rights, as pets, food source, or whatever. If we met intelligent aliens we would treat them as having human rights. Similarly, we may soon have to deal with the question of what sort of rights artificial intelligence have (both computer artificial intelligence, and biotechological artificial intelligence).

      The main reasons we give rights to the very young and comatose and mentally handicapped are (in no particular order) because we know better than to allow someone the power to decide who does or doesn't get human rights, because of empathy, because it sends a very clear message that certain things are unacceptable. Even so, less intelligent humans lose some of their rights (eg the right to sign binding legal contracts). And more intelligent (and cuter) animals get additional rights not granted to less intelligent animals, so eg kittens have more rights than spiders.

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    6. Re:Creepy by Krishnoid · · Score: 2

      Change this gene in something with a larger brain and you could create animals smart enough to deserve human rights. At that point the only ethical course of action is to give them said rights. The problem is the lack of a proper legal framework for such. ...

      We need to start defining legal rights for intelligent, non-human entities immediately.

      Totally not necessary:

      1. Wait until animal brains improve some
      2. Have them pass the bar exam
      3. Now the burden is on them to define and argue the appropriate legal rights
      4. Continue to improve animal brains
      5. Legal framework is now in place once they reach the appropriate level of intelligence
      6. Prosper!
    7. Re:Creepy by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If we met intelligent aliens we would treat them as having human rights.

      Yet when Europeans encountered black Africans, they denied that they had intelligence, and did not recognize their rights. We did the same for chimps and other primates, which are far more intelligent than was recognized a few decades ago. If history is any precedent, we will give sentient aliens whatever rights are economically convenient, and then make up a post hoc rationale.

  5. Forget mice - consider dogs, horses, cats, and men by Karmashock · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Dogs are genetically disposed to imprint on their owners. Imagine a dog that really does understand human language... complete with grammar. Lassie, sort my mail then bring me bills and magazines.

    Consider a horse that isn't stupid. Able to know when it is needed, what it is to do, and when it is to leave. And possibly the damn things could be taught to take care of themselves a bit better so that the owners don't have to spend as much time fussing over them.

    Imagine cats that are not only bred by instinct to depopulate the rat population in the area but that understand that is why you keep them there. Possibly useful as lookouts etc in ways that they're not today.

    And then... people... perhaps this can be stimulated further in a human embryo. They've said our brains won't work much better if made larger but no one has put that little theory to the test. It is possible that a modified human could enjoy a qualitative advantage over normal humans comparable to the advantage normal humans have over chimps. And that sort of advantage is worth the swelled head and sore neck.

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  6. Flowers for Algernon by ClickOnThis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This reminds me of the novel by Daniel Keyes, who BTW died last year.

    --
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  7. Re:Forget mice - consider dogs, horses, cats, and by idontgno · · Score: 2

    Dogs are genetically disposed to imprint on their owners. Imagine a dog that really does understand human language... complete with grammar. Lassie, sort my mail then bring me bills and magazines.

    *wag*.... aroo?... grrrrrr....

    Translation: Yaay, I can help! Wait. Nooo! Dammit, I can't sort mail, I have no opposable thumbs! That thoughtless bastard, giving me physically impossible orders! I'm gonna crap in his slippers!

    --
    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  8. Re:Forget mice - consider dogs, horses, cats, and by Karmashock · · Score: 2

    And I'm sure a baboon would give up some intelligence for a bright blue ass.

    Greater intelligence could mean greater capability which could mean wealth and power. And nothing is sexier then wealth and power. Young women will happily jump into bed with a diseased old man if he's rich and powerful enough.

    Beyond which, the day is coming when you might just gestate your young in an artificial womb rendering the need to woo or romance or court your mate irrelevant.

    Strange days are coming, friend.

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  9. Nickel metal Hydlide by tepples · · Score: 4, Funny

    Battery technology has improved. First it was The Secret of NiMH, then The Li-ion King, and then The Matrix.

  10. Re:Pinky and the brain by slew · · Score: 2

    I'm afraid that there isn't anything funny about NIMH...

    AFAIK, the "inspiration" for the secrets of NIMH was sadly this experiment...
    Not much funny about that...

    Although it does illustrate that Robert Frost's lamenting of the mending wall is bit idealistic, and perhaps there is a good reason to remember that sometimes, good fences do make good neighbors...

  11. Re:Forget mice - consider dogs, horses, cats, and by Howitzer86 · · Score: 2

    Consider a horse that isn't stupid.

    This kills the self-driving car. Seriously. A sapient horse could learn the city like a London cabbie, and at your command, take you where ever you want to go.

  12. The mice will see you now by Trogre · · Score: 2

    That is all.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife