Gene-editing experiment turns fluffy hamsters into 'aggressive' rage monsters [View all]

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Metro
@MetroUK
A team of scientists at Northwestern University in the US have accidentally created overly-aggressive mutant hamsters following a gene-editing experiment. 🐹

They were trying to increase bonding between the lovable animals but failed.

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metro.co.uk
Gene-editing experiment turns fluffy hamsters into 'aggressive' rage monsters
The results of the experiment were a 'startling conclusion'.
8:36 AM · May 27, 2022

https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/27/gene-editing-turns-fluffy-hamsters-into-aggressive-rage-monsters-16721041/

Using the controversial CRISPR technology, researchers at Northwestern University were examining a hormone called vasopressin and its receptor, Avpr1a.

They opted to try and remove the latter from a group of Syrian hamsters, with the expectation it would increase bonding and co-operation between the lovable little critters.

That’s because Avpr1a is understood to regulate things like teamwork and friendship as well as dominance and bonding.

Their expectation proved to be wrong. Very wrong.

‘We were really surprised at the results,’ said Professor H Elliot Albers, the lead researcher on the study.

‘We anticipated that if we eliminated vasopressin activity, we would reduce both aggression and social communication.

‘But the opposite happened.’

*snip*