Photo by Ko and Reiko Kobayakawa/Reuters, edited by me
A team of scientists at the University of Tokyo have genetically engineered mice to not be afraid of cats simply by altering its sense of smell.
By tweaking genes to disable certain functions of the olfactory bulb — the area of the brain that receives information about smells directly from olfactory receptors in the nose — the researchers were able to create a “fearless†mouse that does not panic and flee when it smells cats, foxes and other predators.
Scientists certainly don’t believe that this new ability (or is it a disability?) will be beneficial to mice anywhere, but they do think that it’s a step towards figuring out how the human brain handles anxiety.
Now, if only scientists somewhere would get started on genetically altering human senses so that I won’t be afraid of bugs/insects. Then again, I’m not sure if it’s the smell of insects that bother me. I think it’s more the sight of them that freaks me out a little.
Thanks for sending this over, Joyce!
