Sunday 4 November 2007

Mighty Mouse

Scientists have announced that they have accidentally created a breed of "super-mice" that live longer, have more active sex-lives, and can eat and eat without putting on weight. They are also fantastic athletes. The gene that they altered is found in humans as well, suggesting that they could just as easily make "super-men".

The first thing that I wondered on reading this was why they always have to make these genetic modifications to embryos - why can't they retrofit us with this? But then, would I reall want this?

What point would a more active sex drive be if you don't have an equally active (or indeed any) partner? Even if you did, you still have to go to work, and make time to cycle up the Alps on a regular basis (see below).

The mice are very active generally. This means that they need more exercise. With my lifestyle I don't get enough for my unmodified body, so this wouldn't be very useful. Apparently a human with this mod would be able to cycle up an Alpine mountain without a break. Great if that's what you want to do, especially if you live in the Alps. Not very useful if you're somewhere a bit flatter.

I could eat loads and not put on weight, but this probably requires you to do the Alpine mountain ride every day - these mice are running non-stop for five hours (6km) at a time.

But surely I'd want the longer life? Well, would I really want to prolong such a frustrating and hyperactive existance? I'm not so sure.

There's a less selfish view of this - We're living on a planet with too many people and not enough food. Surely a better modification would be to make us eat less, have a shorter lifespan, and procreate less?

Meanwhile the mice will make great pets - they won't die as often and their hyperactivity will keep the kids amused for longer. Though if they ever escape, you'll never be able to catch them...

15 comments:

Bee said...

"Surely a better modification would be to make us eat less, have a shorter lifespan, and procreate less?"

You came up with the best solution!! :o)

Just kidding! [maybe]

Brian o vretanos said...

Or maybe they should just give it to women ;-)

Jean Knee said...

It makes the human ear on a mouse experiment seem less vulgar somehow.

I have a dilemma when it comes to mice. they are so cute, look at that photo you posted. but I can not have them in my house soiling everything with their excrement. yuck
Once aparticulary adorable one got stuck in a sticky trap in my house and started screching. It was horrible , that poor thing. I flipped because it was sooo cute and yet I was glad it was caught. Any way I don't know what happened to it, Drew took it away thank goodness.

Bee said...

I know some women that don't need it.

jean knee:
LIER [said in texan]!
You told me you used to go target shooting at the dump and you'd shoot at teeny tiny mice cuz they were better practice targets...
TSK TSK!

Jean Knee said...

they were those disgusting kind with long tails, totally deserved to die

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee - Cute Mice:

You should take photos of them being cute before you shoot them or hack them to bits of whatever, then you have the best of both worlds.

If you can shoot mice, that's very impressive - and another reason for me to stay out of Texas ;-)

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

Super-Women:

Are any of them single? Feel free to pass on their phone numbers ;-)

Jean Knee said...

I really have never shot a mouse or rat or anything alive.

I prefer the sticky trap method, followed by husband summoning screeching

Jean Knee said...

I did hack a scorpian with a shoe. it was on my Lean

no I was not pretending it was our favorite scorpio friend, how dare you suggest such an outrage

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

I've only ever had to dispose of dead ones (when we had cats), fortunately. The problem with the cats was that they use to be the ones that brought them in the house in the first place.

Bee said...

Unfortunately they're married, one of 'em is my sis-in-law Marie.

jean knee, did you ever see MIB? Will Smith kills a roach and the roach alien gets pissed off??
Just sayin'...

Jean Knee said...

Brian's the one that insinuated the scorpian might be you, I merely relayed a story.

Brian- they make shoes for cats too..

Jean Knee said...

did I tell yopu my pet scorpian died? on Halloween too, a coincidense? I think not

gees I can't spell

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee: Too bad...

Jean Knee: If you find a good therapist to help you with the scorpion thing, let me know, I can ask if they do spiders as well.

Jean Knee said...

they are both arachnids so we might get a double package discount