Genetically Modified "Marathon Mouse" Strain Escapes into Wild

[kodi]

"Researchers on Monday triumphantly unveiled genetically engineered mice that can run farther and longer than their naturally bred brethren. By Tuesday, however, the same scientists were scrambling to explain how several dozen of these mice had escaped from the laboratory.

"We appreciate that this could have potentially significant repercussions for the native rodent population and the environment in general," said lead researcher Ronald Evans of the Salk Institute in San Diego. "But come on, people - this is a real breakthrough in our understanding of exercise and diet and their effects on obesity. Let's not allow a minor procedural lapse overshadow the real value of these experiments."

"Evans and his team made the marathon mice to help them better understand diseases of the metabolism such as obesity and diabetes. The "fat switch" gene, called PPAR-delta, when switched on begins the process of creating "fatigue-resistant" muscles while helping the heart and nervous system create endurance.

"They created a better mouse," said Jeri Tanaguchi, professor of life science ethics at UC Berkeley. "A much better mouse. Too much better. And they let them get away? What were they thinking?"

"Indeed, instead of improving times by fractions of a second, the genetically enhanced marathon mice ran twice as far and nearly twice as long as naturally bred rodents. The engineered mice ran 1,800 meters before quitting and stayed on the treadmill an hour longer than the natural mice, which were able to stay running for only 90 minutes and travel 900 meters.

"Security cameras indicate the mice ran out the door," said Evans. "And through the lobby, and then the parking lot, and down the street, and out of range of the cameras." A security guard did apparently attempt to chase down the fleeing rodents, but ran out of breath before the mice did.

"I tried... to catch... mice," panted the slightly heavy guard in an interview. "They just... kept... going!"



http://watleyreview.com/2004/082404-3.html

[bertha katzenengel]

1. . . . last seen being chased by an enraged Laurence Olivier . . .

[Blue-Jay]

10. baaaahahahahahaha!

<golf clap>

[bertha katzenengel]

13. Aha! Somebody got it!

:notworthy:

[Dr.Phool]

2. Time to build a better mousetrap.

[ikri]

3. Rats of NIMH?

The rats of NIMH

[oneighty]

5. Yes

those ones.

thanks

180

[Theres-a]

9. Cool website!

[ret5hd]

4. It's Speedy Gonzales!!!

oh man, that cat's NEVER gonna catch 'im now!

[RedCloud]

6. Great! Just what we need. Better mice.

Good thing the dinosaurs didn't have to contend with these V. Raptor race winners.

[Theres-a]

7. ROFLMAO!!

[Misunderestimator]

8. Time to call in the Pied Piper!

[Pied Piper]

11. Here I am!

But this stuff is a bit out of my league!

[Misunderestimator]

12. LOL

:thumbsup:

[jmowreader]

14. They're feverishly working to create a "Marathon Cat"

to catch these damn things...