A team of neuroscience researchers was left “really surprised” after a gene-editing experiment conducted on hamsters turned the docile creatures into “aggressive” monsters. In a statement by Georgia State University (GSU) in the US, researchers highlighted the new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
As per the press release, scientists used Syrian hamsters and CRISPR-Cas9 – a revolutionary technology that makes it possible to turn on or off genes in cells. The technology knocked out a receptor of vasopressin – a hormone associated with enhanced aggression.
The team of researchers believed that the genetic tweak would make the hamsters more social and peaceful. However, surprisingly, the docile animals became more aggressive. “We were really surprised at the results,” H. Elliot Albers, one of the lead researchers in the study, said in a statement, adding, “We anticipated that if we eliminated vasopressin activity, we would reduce both aggression and social communication. But the opposite happened.”
Comments