Gene-Editing Experiment Increased Aggression in Hamsters
May 29th, 2022Via: New York Post:
Scientists at Northwestern University used controversial CRISPR technology to remove hormone vasopressin and its receptor, Avpr1a, from a group of the critters with the expectation that increase cooperation between the critters, according to the study.
The hypothesis was wrong.
“We were really surprised at the results,” H. Elliot Albers, one of the lead researchers in the study, told Metro.
“We anticipated that if we eliminated vasopressin activity, we would reduce both aggression and social communication.”
Once gene-spliced, the hamsters exhibited “high levels of aggression towards other same-sex individuals,” the professor said, regardless of sexuality or genotype.
