Article

2010-12-22 Science & Technology

Scientists create mouse that sings like bird

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by tipper 2010-12-22 01:27|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Mammals and some other animals share a "speech and language" gene called FOXP2, which is also important for "modulating plasticity of neural circuits." Especially learning complex speech patterns such as birdsong.

But humans have an almost unique version of FOXP2, a mutation that is believed to do several things important to the use of speech to communicate, which may be a major reason that most of us no longer live in caves, unless Reaper UAVs are searching for us.

Likely this was a mutation of the mouse's FOXP2.

In past, scientists briefly put the human version into a mouse embryo, producing "chatty" mice with a greater vocal range than normal mice. But this was too dramatic for them, so they killed the mice and went on to other things.

I'm dying to see what would happen if they put the human version into dogs.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-12-22 10:06|| 2010-12-22 10:06|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes a dog that could talk and understand (More than they already do) Would be a godsend for handicapped folks, Gives a whole new meaning to "Helper dog" Think of a blind person's guide dog Saying, "Watch it there's a step Up here"
Or 911 yes, "Help my owner has collapsed"
Im all for it, would end animal cruelty when Fido can testify.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2010-12-22 18:46|| 2010-12-22 18:46|| Front Page Top

#3 SQUIRREL!!!

Posted by Adriane 2010-12-22 22:35|| 2010-12-22 22:35|| Front Page Top

23:56 CrazyFool
23:06 Swamp Blondie
22:56 USN,Ret
22:50 USN,Ret
22:35 Adriane
22:25 crosspatch
22:06 Frank G
22:06 Rob Crawford
22:04 Frank G
22:01 Old Patriot
21:58 Old Patriot
21:58 john frum
21:57 Zhang Fei
21:30 tu3031
21:27 tu3031
21:24 Nicky Santoro
21:07 Silentbrick - Lost Drill Bit Division - Halliburton
20:52 Redneck Jim
20:44 tipper
20:31 JosephMendiola
20:18 Bright Pebbles
20:18 Rob Crawford
20:17 Nimble Spemble
20:14 Rob Crawford