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Mice Blamed for Plane Crash
A Connecticut man says he's been told that mice brought down his small plane that crashed into a river in Rhode Island last week.
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The nose really can smell danger
A mouse’s nose has a cluster of specialized cells that respond to the chemical signals sent out by fellow mice that are in distress, researchers report, meaning that mice can literally smell fear. A lump of nerve cells in the nose tip called the Grueneberg ganglion responds to the “fear pheromones” of imperiled creatures, sending a signal straight to the brain. As Grueneberg ganglia are known to exist in rodents, cats, apes, and humans, researchers say it’s likely that the cells perform the same function in all mammals.
In a new study, researchers dosed water dishes with mouse alarm pheromones, and put the dishes in cages with both normal mice and mice whose ganglia had been removed. The contrast was very striking, [lead researcher Marie-Christine] Broillet said. “The normal mouse immediately gets scared and goes to the corner of the box and freezes,” she said. But mice without the ganglia carried on as before, seemingly unaware of the danger signals. Both groups were able to sniff out cookies hidden in their cages, however, suggesting the altered group’s sense of smell was otherwise unaffected [National Geographic News].
The findings, reported in the journal Science [subscription required], solve an old puzzle about the function of the Grueneberg ganglion; when it was discovered in 1973 scientists couldn’t determine its purpose, and it was then forgotten for over 30 years. Researchers rediscovered the structure a few years ago when mice were genetically engineered to produce a green fluorescent protein in their neurons, Broillet says. Scientists were surprised to see the clusters of green neurons sitting all alone at the tip of the mice’s noses [Science News].
Warning systems that help animals detect a threat to their own species provide a clear boost in survival odds, so researchers say it makes sense that the ganglia evolved early and are present throughout the mammalian family tree. Even certain plants release alarm pheromones to produce bitter and astringent tannins, so they can become less appetizing to hungry animals. In modern life, our own response to alarm pheromones might be hard to notice, but it is entirely possible that we still inadvertently react to their presence [Ars Technica]. A mouse’s nose has a cluster of specialized cells that respond to the chemical signals sent out by fellow mice that are in distress, r... more -
Mice can sniff out fear, study finds
Fear has its own smell. It comes from what scientists call an "alarm pheromone."
Animals produce it when they're stressed, but how it works has long puzzled scientists. Now, a team in Switzerland has discovered an organ in the nose of mice that detects alarm pheromones — in effect, it smells fear.
The organ, known as the Grueneberg ganglion, is a tiny bundle of cells near the tip of a mouse's nose.
Marie-Christine Broillet, a biologist at the University of Lausanne, collected air samples from cages where older laboratory mice were being euthanized. When researchers exposed a live mouse to that air, the neurons in the Grueneberg ganglion started to fire. And the mouse's behavior changed. "It would just go to the opposite end of the cage and freeze," says Broillet. Fear has its own smell. It comes from what scientists call an "alarm pheromone." ... more -
Scientists Slow the Progression of HIV in Mice
Last year the worldwide community of HIV researchers had a major disappointment—its leading potential vaccine, so promising in lab tests, had fallen flat in human trials. Today there is better news: in the new issue of Cell, researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center announce that a technique called RNA interference can dramatically suppress HIV's spread not just in a petri dish but also in mice carrying human immune cells. The findings suggest a new mechanism for treating HIV with drugs—and perhaps also preventing it with a vaccine. NEWSWEEK's Mary Carmichael spoke with Harvard's Priti Kumar, one of the study's leaders.
Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: RNA interference is certainly promising—its discoverers won the Nobel Prize two years ago. Can you explain to me how it works, both in general and when it's used against HIV?
Priti Kumar: RNA interference is a mechanism where short molecules of ribonucleic acid called siRNA [the mirror image of DNA] are introduced into cells. They can attach to very specific strands of mRNA, the chemical that DNA uses to reproduce itself, and prevent the mRNA from doing its job [by destroying it]. That stops gene expression from taking place. These short molecules of RNA were discovered as an innate defensive mechanism that plants were using against viruses. They are now known to function in mammalian cells, too.
Scientists had the idea of using them against HIV a few years ago, and they proved that the RNA molecules could stop the virus in a lab setting.
Yes, [the laboratory of Kumar's collaborator Premlata Shankar] was one of the first to discover that targeting HIV with RNA interference could lead to the virus' destruction—replication couldn't take place, and thus the spread of HIV from one cell to another could be totally stopped. The challenge then was how to introduce the siRNA into the T cells, the human cells that are targeted by HIV. Once the virus infects the body, there's a huge decline in these T cells, and we suspected that having the short molecules of RNA ready in the T cells could prevent that. The challenge was to get them into those specific T cells in the first place.
So how did you do it?
We attached the short RNA molecules to antibodies that are attracted to a protein found only on the outside of T cells. Binding an antibody to this particular protein doesn't seem to affect the T cell's normal activity at all. And we had to be very careful about that—we didn't want the T cells to get activated or suppressed. But it appears that engaging this molecule on the cells does not have any debilitative consequences; it just delivers the RNA into the inside of the cells.
Once the RNA is inside the cell, what does it do?
It stops three key genes … from working. One of these is a human gene, CCR5, a molecule of choice for preventing the virus' entry into cells. But we also had short molecules of RNA targeting two other HIV genes to destroy the viral RNA if it gains entry into cells. One of the major problems with current HIV drugs, the antiretrovirals, is that the virus can develop into mutated strains that become resistant to the drug. You could also have this happen if you used a single type of siRNA—that could lead to the development of mutated, resistant strains of the virus too. But if you can target multiple genes at the same time, the probability of resistant strains coming up is very low.
(continued) Last year the worldwide community of HIV researchers had a major disappointment—its leading potential vaccine, so promising ... more -
Genetically modified "marathon mice" can run for two hours!
Scientists in the US have engineered so called "marathon mice" which can run for more than two hours, a distance of almost a mile, without stopping.
This story kind of lost its appeal when it revealed that normal mice can run for 90 minutes, and cover about a kilometer without stopping, but it's impressive nonetheless. Scientists in the US have engineered so called "marathon mice" which can run for more than two hours, a distance of almost a... more -
Bring The Mouse Down
Searches are up for "depression", after a new study showed that giving up booze can make you depressed.
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Giving up alcohol can lead to depression
Thanks to some scientists and drunk mice, a new study has found that moderate drinkers who give up alcohol are likely to suffer from mild depression. Scientific evidence has long suggested that restrained drinking offers some protection against heart disease, certain types of stroke and some forms of cancer.
“In mice that voluntarily drank alcohol for 28 days, depression-like behaviour was evident 14 days after termination of alcohol drinking.”
The mice were tested for depression-like behaviour using a widely recognised method called the Porsolt Swim Test. Each rodent was placed inside a beaker filled with water and allowed to swim for six minutes.
The amount of time they spend immobile - floating and not swimming - was measured as an index of despair or depression-like behaviour. The more time a mouse spends immobile, the more “depressed” it was thought to be. Thanks to some scientists and drunk mice, a new study has found that moderate drinkers who give up alcohol are likely to suffer from m... more -
Mouse Jacket Grown, Euthanized In Museum Lab
In one of the odder stories we've spotted in some time, an installation called "Victimless Leather" was on display at NY's MoMA. The piece was actually a living jacket crafted from mouse embryonic stem cells, fed nutrients through tubes. But after five weeks, it grew too large for its containment flask and had to be killed.
The exhibit's curator cut the coat off from nutrition and it died thereafter. But the decision haunted her.
I've always been pro-choice and all of a sudden I'm here not sleeping at night about killing a coat...That thing was never alive before it was grown.
Personally, it's the image of a pulsating living rat coat that's going to keep me from sleeping. Did anyone see the exhibit? In one of the odder stories we've spotted in some time, an installation called "Victimless Leather" was on display at N... more -
Did you know ...
female mice can tell if male mice are inbred just by smelling them?
"More inbred mice produce a skimpier variety of a type of molecule called major urinary proteins, or MUPs—and whose whiff betrays the shortcoming...Female mice can identify more outbred males by the higher diversity of urinary proteins.”
Scientist think this may also be true of other species. So if you can't get a date, put this on your list of possible reasons why. female mice can tell if male mice are inbred just by smelling them? ... more -
Why does the Kremlin want 3,200 mice?
Wanted: 3,200 white mice. Must be female. No more than 18 grams. Purchaser: the Kremlin security service.
So why does the Kremlin guard, which is made up of elite troops who protect President Vladimir Putin, want to buy so many female white mice?
"Everyone is wondering what they are for. But if they were ordered then that means they are needed," an official from the service said with a gruff chuckle.
He refused to speculate about whether the mice could be used to feed to the falcons which are kept in the Kremlin, the seat of Russia's rulers, to scare off crows.
"There are more important things to think about," he said.
Some Russian media have also speculated the mice could play a role in testing toxic substances or indicating the presence of dangerous gases.
Whatever the case, the cat is out of the bag. Documents posted on the official government tender Web Site on Friday showed the Kremlin guard has found a supplier and will pay 475,776 roubles (10,040 pounds) for the mice." Wanted: 3,200 white mice. Must be female. No more than 18 grams. Purchaser: the Kremlin security service. ... more -
Surfing mice
Introducing the Radical Rodents, the world's first four-piece surfing mice club. Catch them riding tubes, pulling slick switches as well as falling in.
The four consist of Bunsen, Harry, Curly and Chopsticks, but Bunsen stands out as by far the smoothest surfing mouse I've ever seen. Introducing the Radical Rodents, the world's first four-piece surfing mice club. Catch them riding tubes, pulling slick switches ... more -
'Weight training' reduces fat in mice
Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have demonstrated that in mice, the use of barbells may be as important to losing weight and improving health as the use of running shoes. Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have demonstrated that in mice, the use of barbells may be as importa... more
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Mutant Mice, Don't Fear Cats
Japanese scientists have developed a mouse whose natural response to fear cats has been removed. What's next?
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Genetically-Modified Monster Mouse
One small step for man...another seemingly pointless step for science?! Lab boffins have created a mouse which is genetically unafraid of cats and other predators. Check out this video of the rodent in question meeting a slightly bemused feline...
Just in time for the pre-Christmas slack news season! Has the science community received some kind of backhander from the media? One small step for man...another seemingly pointless step for science?! Lab boffins have created a mouse which is genetically unafrai... more -
Mighty Mouse is here... Superman on the way?
Genetically modified mice run faster, eat more, live longer, have more sex and leap tall buildings in a single bound.
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Non-Lethal (and Beautiful) Mousetraps
What did your friendly mouse ever do to you?
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Of mice and drugs
Another way to waste time at work. YAY! "Mouse Party is a flash program developed by the University of Utah that allows you to see what effects various drugs have on virtual mice." The link to the game is in the article Another way to waste time at work. YAY! "Mouse Party is a flash program developed by the University of Utah that allows you to se... more
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Gender bending mice
It's an organ in their nose that controls their sex!
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Land of 2 Billion Mice
Via Vice: In China, they not only have lots of people, they also have lots of rodents as well.
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2 Billion Chinese Mice Overrun Lake Area
People living in communities surrounding a large shallow lake have been overrun by field mice after floodwaters drove the rodents out of islands on the lake. People living in communities surrounding a large shallow lake have been overrun by field mice after floodwaters drove the rodents out ... more
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