Need to read this asap, but 6.5% is an exceedingly small effect size and not robust given many confounding developmental and technical factors. The typical coefficient of error between volumes of even large brain regions in genetically identical mice is usually well over 5%. And I suspect the transgene was only tested on one genetic background—-usually C57BL/6J.<p>Will emend this post tomorrow with corrections after reading carefully. I can say with reasonsble assurance that no one has measured and weighed more mouse brains than I have ;-) (except you John Wong)
Meta comment: 11/13 comments currently are pop-culture references (Flowers for Algernon, Pinky and the Brain, other movies) or generic phrases and only 2 comments relate to the actual article. I've been on HN for over a decade, and this is the worst it's ever been.
Given the standard practice in lab experimentation using mice (which is to "dispose" of them after their usefulness for a test is done) I'm extremely troubled by the idea of gene editing experimentation using mice to make them <i>more</i> intelligent (their standard intelligence would already be surprising to many people).<p>While I already think it's unethical to use animals the way we do, the idea that we're experimenting with how close we can get to bestowing them with human intelligence before killing them is saddening.
That is neat but doesn't mean much by itself without some kind of test on cognition. The size of a creatures brain doesn't really correlate with intelligence very well.
comment on the comments
geneticly spliced animals and humand are now real, but for many years have occupied a specific place in sci fi, where there are enhanced animals and humans, hybrids, and we have a huge subculture of "furryies" so the headline is pushing lots of buttons. The thing is that it's going to happen, and the pieces are here right now to make hybrids, and even alter a life forms DNA after birth.
The point bieng if anybody is getting triggered by the whole kids and smart phones thing, best just think of that as quaint , as there is a massive market for some little adorable critter that can talk.....brace yourselves
and nothing can make that possibility go away now
And thus began the Mousepocalypse...<p>(:shrug: I get it... Sore point... The apocalypse isn't a humorous thing to joke about, what with it being in the midst of <i>actually happening</i> and all ... but if I don't try to find myself a little giggle here and there once in a while I'ma <i>literally</i> go insane, so whatever. Down-vote away. Don't really care anymore.)