A SINGLE deleted gene can produce behavioural changes in mice that resemble
those caused by psychiatric disorders, scientists say in Cell (vol 90,
p 895).
Anthony Wynshaw-Boris of the National Institutes of Health near Washington DC
and his team found that mice lacking a gene called disheveled-1 are
withdrawn and have problems interpreting sensory stimuli. While normal mice can
learn to ignore a loud sound if they hear a soft one first, mice without this
gene will startle every time. The gene may play a role in human psychiatric
diseases, the researchers say.
