Gene Limits Learning and Memory in Mice

[Tank]

Gene Limits Learning and Memory in Mice

ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2010) â€" Deleting a certain gene in mice can make them smarter by unlocking a mysterious region of the brain considered to be relatively inflexible, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found.

Mice with a disabled RGS14 gene are able to remember objects they'd explored and learn to navigate mazes better than regular mice, suggesting that RGS14's presence limits some forms of learning and memory.

The results were published online in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...

Hmmmm, if it limits learning there must be a value to it, maybe curiosity isn't the best thing for mouse survival outside the lab.

[Velma]

Gene Limits Learning and Memory in Mice

ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2010) â€" Deleting a certain gene in mice can make them smarter by unlocking a mysterious region of the brain considered to be relatively inflexible, scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found.

Mice with a disabled RGS14 gene are able to remember objects they'd explored and learn to navigate mazes better than regular mice, suggesting that RGS14's presence limits some forms of learning and memory.

The results were published online in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences...

Hmmmm, if it limits learning there must be a value to it, maybe curiosity isn't the best thing for mouse survival outside the lab.

Given the position in the food chain of mice, too much curiosity is probably not a good thing - too long in the open and they become lunch.  However, if there is a similar gene in humans, that could be the beginning of some interesting research.

[PoopShoot]

if it limits learning there must be a value to it,

Not necessarily.  It could be a neutral mutation that simply proliferated.  One other thing to consider is what other effects it has.  Genes often have multiple effects.

[Tank]

if it limits learning there must be a value to it,

Not necessarily.  It could be a neutral mutation that simply proliferated.  One other thing to consider is what other effects it has.  Genes often have multiple effects.

Well if it had other effects it would not be neutral, but I get your point. The multiple effect issue is the bottom line, we don't know what the knock on effects are yet, but the scientists will no doubt be keeping a careful eye on the modified mice.

[PoopShoot]

Well if it had other effects it would not be neutral, but I get your point.

Well, that depends on whether the other effects are neutral.  Or whether one of the effects was once beneficial, but became neutral.  Or...

The multiple effect issue is the bottom line, we don't know what the knock on effects are yet, but the scientists will no doubt be keeping a careful eye on the modified mice.

They would be piss-poor biologists if they didn't.

[Tank]

The multiple effect issue is the bottom line, we don't know what the knock on effects are yet, but the scientists will no doubt be keeping a careful eye on the modified mice.

They would be piss-poor biologists if they didn't.

Quite so.

[Heretical Rants]

if there is a similar gene in humans, that could be the beginning of some interesting research.

There is. Check the sixth paragraph of the article.

RGS14, which is also found in humans, was identified more than a decade ago. Hepler and his colleagues have previously shown that the RGS14 protein can regulate several molecules involved in processing different types of signals in the brain that are known to be important for learning and memory. They believe RGS14 is a key control protein for these signals.

"The pipe dream is that maybe you could find a compound that inhibits RGS14 or shuts it down," he adds. "Then, perhaps, you could enhance cognition."

This would probably also have some negative effects.

[tymygy]

Does is also have something to do with fear?

Like, maybe its just something that keeps a mouse from doing something risky which it would not have done if it had the gene.

Just speculation, but it could just be an adaptation to keep the mouse very cautious.

Of course, more studies would need to be ensued to confirm this.