Sci Tech Today 9-19-99 -- Hey guys, what's up!?

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Date Posted: 10:39:47 09/19/99 Sun
Author: Ayumi
Subject: Sci Tech Today 9-19-99

* Gene tinkering makes memorable mice...

Recently, our science has been developed to create mice with superior memory and learning ability by adding the gene for a protein that helps brain cells communicate.

Tsien's group created mice with extra copies of the gene of the component of the NMDA receptor which is great concern with memory formation.

But biologists and ethicists have debated whether the technique might one day allow parents to shape the intelligence and temperament of their children.

Scientists say that results in mice might not apply to people because in fact, an overactive might even interfere with intelligence.

Also, Silver says that genetic enhancement of intelligence was at least 25 years away, and that's a "conservative" estimate.

*****
... and hikes fear and anxiety in others

Since only a portion of the people exposed to traumatic events develop anxiety disorders, researchers suspect that some type of genetic vulnerability contributes to these distressing conditions.

Experimental deletion of the mouse gene leads to a marked drop in the number of molecular receptors for a neurotransmitter known as GABA, which dampens the activity of brain areas such as the amygdala and hippocampus, which are implicated in fear and anxiety.

So people with shortage of GABA can be predicted to develop anxiety disorders.

GABA receptor-poor mice also learned more quickly to react fear situations.

The mutant mice became far less fearful after receiving injections of anxiety drugs.

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