Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Lasers make mice ‘killers’
NEW HAVEN: Mice were turned into Walking Deadstyle killer zombies by turning on a light that activated specific brain cells associated with hunting, scientists have revealed.
The researchers found that firing one set of neurons prompted the mouse to pursue its prey, while doing the same to another set caused the animal to bite and kill its target. The effect was so strong that the creature would attack anything nearby, such as sticks or bottle caps, as well as more normal prey like crickets.
Scientists from Yale University and other institutions in China and Brazil managed to turn them into killing machines using a technique called optogenetics.
A statement about the study issued by the journal Cell said: “The mice take on qualities of ‘walkers’ from (TV series) The Walking Dead, pursuing and biting almost anything in their path.” However, the effect was stronger in mice that were hungry and they also did not attack other mice in the cage.
Professor Ivan de Araujo, of Yale University School of Medicine, who took part in the research, said the comparison to The Walking Dead was only fair to a degree.
“The system is not just generalised aggression. It seems to be related to the animal’s interest in obtaining food,” he said.
The paper said the mice were never seen to attack inanimate objects unless the laser was used.
The research was carried out as part of the scientists’ attempts to understand how mice feed themselves. – The Independent