Mon, 15 Sep 2008

No helicopter moms among Rutgers mutant mice

I'm not sure what this means - or even if it means anything at all. 'Twas the headline that got the eye - and the mind, if you let it.

First, he discovered a gene that controls innate fear in animals. Now Rutgers geneticist Gleb Shumyatsky has shown that the same gene promotes "helicopter mom" behavior in mice. The gene, known as stathmin or oncoprotein 18, motivates female animals to protect newborn pups and interact cautiously with unknown peers. Shumyatsky's newest finding could enhance our understanding of human anxiety, including part-partum depression and borderline personality disorders.

(link) [EurekAlert]

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