The fearless mice

By preventing a gene from developing, researchers have created a more daring and bold mouse than other mice.

Gleb Shumyatsky and a number of other researchers have won the Nobel Prize for Eric Kandel thanks to the study of the behavior of mice with stathmin gene disabled. These mice dared to ventilate in risky areas despite their survival instincts, often avoiding those places. Moreover, they appear to be less fearful than other mice.

Stathmin gene is an agent in expressing innate fear as well as other fears that rats encounter in life. When taking them to dangerous places and letting them hear a loud explosion due to electric shocks, this genetically engineered rat is still calm. This proves that their ability to perceive fear has changed. However, their ability to memorize the twists and turns is similar to other mice.

The stathmin gene is an essential factor in the creation of the microelements, the internal structure of neurons, which plays an important role in communicating between neurons. When this gene is lost, the amount of microcirculation increases and cells lose their reflexes. This ability to reflect is very important in remembering emotions.