Here is a story of the remarkable influence of a single gene (with a key role to play in brain development) on overt aggressive tendencies in mice. Excerpts:
"Scientists at the University of British Columbia's Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics created a strain of extremely vicious lab mice three years ago after accidentally deleting a gene that affects brain development. The mutant mice were so aggressive they killed their mates, chewed their siblings' tails and even attacked their lab handlers.
The unanswered question was whether the human form of the gene also plays a role in aggression in people. The new research now suggests that it does.
By giving mutant mice embryos the human version of the gene they were missing, the UBC team found the nasty rodents grew into a rather nice strain instead.
As such, the experiment raises the possibility of designing a gene therapy to counter aggression -- as well as the eerie spectre of enhancing it.
More immediately, it means mice can act as models to study human genes involved in abnormal behaviour and psychiatric disorders."
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