Gene turn-off makes meek mice fearless

New Scientist ^ | 11/17/05 | Stu Hutson

[LibWhacker]

Deactivating a specific gene transforms meek mice into daredevils, researchers have found. The team believe the research might one day enable people suffering from fear – in the form of phobias or anxiety disorders, for example – to be clinically treated.

The research found that mice lacking an active gene for the protein stathmin are not only more courageous, but are also slower to learn fear responses to pain-associated stimuli, says geneticist Gleb Shumyatsky, at Rutgers University in New Jersey, US.

In the experiments, the stathmin-lacking mice wandered out into the centre of an open box, in defiance of the normal mouse instinct to hide along the box’s walls to avoid potential predators.

And to test learned fear, the mice were exposed to a loud sound followed by a brief electric shock from the floor below them. A day later, normal mice froze when the sound was played again. Stathmin-lacking mice barely reacted to the sound at all. Neural responses

In both mice and humans, the amygdala area of the brain serves as the control centre of basic fear impulses. Stathmin is found almost exclusively in this and related brain areas.

The protein is known to destabilise microtubule structures that help maintain the connections between neurons. This allows the neurons to make new connections, allowing the animal to learn and process fear experiences, Shumyatsky says. Without it, the neural responses are stilted.

The lack of the protein does not appear to affect other learning experiences, as both sets of mice were able to memorise the paths out of mazes equally well. “This is a good sign for an eventual clinical application that could let people deal with their fears in an entirely different way,” Shumyatsky says.

In 2002, Shumyatsky and colleagues published a study on a similar gene encoding for a protein called GRP. But this protein seems only to be associated with learned fear, and would therefore only have clinical implications for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Stathmin, on the other hand, seems to affect both learned and innate fear, which could lead to treatments for a much broader range of phobias and anxiety disorders, Shumyatsky says.

[LibWhacker]

Interesting... Treated, our warriors could be more warrior-like (if that's possible; they're already awesome), and liberals might find they actually have a pair in times of war.

[putupjob]

Can we use this on the spineless Republicans in Congress and the Senate?

[Bigh4u2]

Now we can turn 'passive aggressors' into real 'homicidal maniacs'.

[DaveLoneRanger]

Ah, but at times, fear is a healthful thing. I'm not so sure that turning mice into men is a good thing. What happens when people no longer fear getting arrested? Or touching hot objects?

But in war, completely removing fear may give soldiers a better advantage. It could revolutionize fighting skills. Or destroy them.

[VRWCmember]

A six-pack of Coors ought to accomplish the same thing.

[Bigh4u2]

"But in war, completely removing fear may give soldiers a better advantage"

Or it could cause them to be so careless that they get themselves killed quicker.

[GSlob]

Hmm, no, it is not for the military: incoming fire has the right-of-way, and they do need to duck on occasion.

[Uncle Miltie]

Maybe Nancy could use a fix.

[theDentist]

Here I come to save the Daaaaaaaaay!
Protein stathmin is on the waaaaaay!

[NRA1995]

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

A soldier without fear is a hazard to himself and others. There is not a single soldier who does not know fear. Fear keeps him alive. The truly courageous ones harness their fear and do not let it control them. The idea in war "is to make the other poor damn SOB die for his country". You may want to sit back and really analyze what you are saying

[DaveLoneRanger]

Note that I said "It could revolutionize fighting skills. Or destroy them."

[lizma]

"But in war, completely removing fear may give soldiers a better advantage"

There was a Star Trek episode like this.

[Bigh4u2]

Although that statement wasn't mine, I still agree with you about the Star Trek episode.

Just can't remember which one tho.

[TruthFactor]

BRAVO!!!!!!!

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Noted.

[speed_addiction]

When I was in the Army I served with a guy named Duncan. We went through Basic, Infantry School, Jump School and Ranger School together. While Duncan did not mind sliding down a rope from a helicoter, he was deathly afraid jumping out of airplanes. It absolutely horrified him to the point of getting sick and throwing up. He would get pale, sweat, shake and puke, yet he never missed a manifest call or fail to throw his body out of an airplane with only a nylon canopy to stop his plummet to Earth.

Our First Sergeant had a deep admiration for Duncan. Called him the bravest man he ever saw, because for a man to be so terrified of something, yet conquer it time after time spoke volumes about his courage. Conquering your fears is courage. Having no fear at all is just reckless. It would give me pause to serve with completely fearless men.


What We Are About To Do Here Is What The Good Lord Would Call A Cleansing of the Wicked. I Call It A Good Old Fashioned Texas Ass Kicking.

[Khepera]

Man i could use this.

[Red Badger]

I'm fairly fearless when my jeans are off.......

[Khepera]

I see you fear this therapy.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

[LibWhacker]

Nice story! Thanks for sharing it. I'm hoping they are able to tweak any such treatment in the future so that they do not produce recklessly fearless men. Obviously, that is not what is wanted.

Rather, the goal would be to reduce a Duncan's excessive fear of jumping out of airplanes (with a parachute on his back), while retaining his healthy sense of caution that would serve to keep him alive in combat (or in any inherently risky situation).

[Bigh4u2]

Fear?

Suspicious is more like it.

What can be used for good, may also be used for evil.

Do you really want a 'fearless' soldier?

How do you control someone that is fearless?

[BikerNYC]

Wow. You mean behavior is governed by genetics? Who'da thunk it?

[Khepera]

Control?
You don't... hey it's a free country.

What can be used for good, may also be used for evil.

Lets ban guns. Electricity is pretty dangerous too especially if it is from Nuclear energy.

[penowa]

Can we use this on the spineless Republicans in Congress and the Senate?

Yes, we have the perfect group of test subjects to see if this really works. Use it on the Republicans in the Senate and if we detect any difference in their attitudes, then try it on the House.

[Bigh4u2]

So you think a commanding officer is not in 'control' of his troops?

Someone who is 'fearless' may have no qualms about killing the innocent as well as the guilty.

Without fear, what 'control' would they have on their actions?

"Lets ban guns."

I fail to see your point. As I said "What can be used for good, may also be used for evil. "

There is no contradiction in that statement.

Guns can be used for 'evil' as well as 'good'.

Doesn't mean they should be banned.

Your argument makes no sense.

[massgopguy]

Finally some good news. I'm sick of being blamed for everything. Gene causes Cancer and such.

[LibWhacker]

Lol, I am surprised that one gene governs fear. Since the survival of a species depends on having some fear at the appropriate times, I'd expect some redundancy there (though I know zip about biology!).

[BikerNYC]

I suppose there may be other genes or combination of genes that govern this particular behavior, but only this gene has so far been discovered.

[Khepera]

Don't worry I'm just being a contrarian today.

[flashbunny]

IF the make a pill for this, the first batch needs to go to france.

[RightWhale]

Fearless mice might not last long enough to build a significant population.

[LibWhacker]

That's why we've got to identify the sabre-tooth gene and switch it on for the poor things!

[Bigh4u2]

"Don't worry I'm just being a contrarian today."

Only today?

:0)

[arthurus]

Sounds like something that could have military applications...

[Taffini]

bump

[FreedomFarmer]

Sometimes it only takes a keyboard and an internet connection.

[ladyjane]

Testosterone has a similar effect.

[Bigh4u2]

"Testosterone has a similar effect."

It does NOT!!!!! /sarc

:0)

[Khepera]

Well maybe not only today.

[philsfan24]

dont forget beer

[AmericanChef]

If they took my fear gene away, I wouldn't be afraid of cutting my fingers off whenever I get out the Big Chef Knife - on the downside, I wouldn't have any fingers left.

[Arthalion]

If you think giving this kind of treatment to our soldiers is a good thing, you should reread a history of World War I. Tens of thousands of fearless young men were taught to be "warrior like" and recklessly charged enemy lines time after time. To a man, they were mowed down like grass.

Modern warfare isn't about charging fearlessly into battle, it's a chess game where the goal is to outflank and out-strategize your opponent. There's a nickname for guys who just charge into battle like that: "Hero". That's what we call them when they come home in their body bags. The guys who actually win the wars are the ones who move slowly and methodically, taking their enemies out using tactics and battleplans rather than bravado. They may not be fearless, but they beat the enemy and come home when the war is over.

Rambo is entertaining fiction, but that kind of fighting hasn't actually been effective since mankind adopted firearms.

[LibWhacker]

Maybe you should read the whole thread.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Born without fear??? We need them in the Corps...

http://www.glcorps.org/

[RightWhale]

They got those already. Shrews. Teeth like meat cleavers. Don't know if they are shy, they are so small and fast you wouldn't probably see them anyway. The only thing meaner in that weight class was our own original ancestor.

[Dick Vomer]

I suspect that most of this study was conducted on French mice...

[LibWhacker]

[Erasmus]

Lets ban guns. Electricity is pretty dangerous too especially if it is from Nuclear energy.

Khep, baby, you have the germ of a fabulous idea there. Let's start a "boutique" electric company, which guarantees that our customer gets nothing but 'green, organic' electricity. You know, produced from nothing but windmills, fermenting sunflower seeds, etc.

Mind you, we don't have to actually horn in on the existing power companies; we can offer this service as an add-on, with the surcharge billed by, and payments going directly to, us.

Let's get started on an internet ad blitz.