It is said that humans are supposed to me the most civilised race on earth. I beg to differ. We are the only race that kill our own and ourselves. We also take sport in making other species suffer for what? Fun? "Progress"?

I think that genetic experiments like this show that the human race is no better than that of a dog! Senseless, barbaric torture on defenceless animals is something people should be ashamed of! Not something they can revel in under the illusion it is "putting one step forward in the understanding of a disease"!

Mice have feelings too! Do they not cry when they feel pain?! Shiver when they are cold?! Eat when they are hungry!? They might not know feelings like "love" but that still doesn't mean they're not aware what is going on and suffer because of it!

End this barbaric onslaught of innocent animals! If scientists want to experiment why not use themselves? They want to know what will happen if you tinker with this and that not the mice!!

Raven, Horden, England

I think what they are doing is disgusting and down right wrong! How would they like to be genetically altered to have a mental illness?! You hear and read about people with these illnesses and they all say the would not wish anything or anyone to suffer like they do! Why would "scientists" inflict this upon something so defenceless? I am appauled!!!!!

Robyn Chandler, Peterlee, England

This is absolutely disgusting. I suffer from a form of schizophrenia, and I would sacrifice my sanity for these animals. I would rather be crazy for the rest of my life then for animals to be infected with this tragic disease. I can't even believe that anyone thinks this a good solution.

Stephanie, Boston, United States

I still can't believe that they can live with themselfs after hurting animals, its sick! How can no body understand that animals are living things with feelings?
Bravo for everyone who commented against animal testing!

Tilly Baker, Kent, England!

You mean to tell us that these "brilliant"( ??) Frankenstein Scientist are JUST NOW researching mental illness. Nooo, I think they ran out of hideous painful experiments to inflict upon animals. The answers they claim will be realized from causing a poor creature to suffer are already well known, researched and documented. Using animals as "things" is the means to their paychecks, funded by our tax dollars. To the researchers: Leave the animals alone and go back to your cave and think up some more unnecessary outrageous way to cause animals pain. Or get a real job!

Zona, Oyster Bay, USA

Ya, I guess that does sound weird. But I don't see the progress they(the SCIEntist) keep on toting as the benifit from all these great experiments. It seems that as long as yopu can supress reshearch on the benifits of Mary Jane, but pour money down the magic pill theory all will be good in our rat race of a live.

Boogie, Ash Fork, AZ

scientists have been using mice in order to make progress in the medical field for yrs now, why not do the same to make advancements in the psych field? schizophrenia is one of the most, if not the most, deteriorating mental disorders and any research that can help in future prevention is extremeley important. if we can single out and manipulate genes responsible for schizophrenia, we may be able to end the suffering of many individuals in our population. there is a strong genetic component to schizophrenia, so i'm not sure i follow the above arguments regarding longer lifespans due to being more hygenic etc.

prakruti, chicago, il

It's all very well finding risk genes in illness or even character traits, but it is our behaviour that primarily makes us ill, lack of exercise, sexual misconduct and poor diet are easily understood to be factors in physical and mental illness.

It almost seems as though we would like to find treatments, or even engineer ourselves to become resistant to our own paucity of humanity, correcting natural "defects", to allow ourselves to smoke cannabis in front of the TV!

Mutant genes allowing schizophrenia or physical illness aren't defects. They are things we should work around, by lifestyle and selecting a healthy partner, who has some integrity, and who rides a bicycle, for instance.
I say this: clone David Cameron!

Keith Murray, Brighton, UK

Our current longer lifespan is not because of animal-testing (we don't go to the vet to treat our illnesses because a cat or mouse is not a human being and there are great many scientists who assert that vivisection presents fallacious results). We live longer lives because we have better access to food, shelter, treatment of injuries such as broken bones and rotting teeth. We live a more hygienic lifestyle which means less women die in childbirth, and people no longer throw sewerage and refuse into the streets to rot as we did. We now also make provisions for the disabled and aging citizens (rather than leaving them out in the wilderness to die as was done in earlier times). There are many reasons why humans live longer, but animal-testing is not the reason. Animal testing is big business, and definitely erroneous. Only clinicial trials in humans reveal the answers on which we can rely. (When a mouse is given a drug, it cannot tell you if it has a headache or feels nauseous.)

S, Birsbane, Australia

Some questions for those who seem to be of the view that "if it takes 100 mice fatalities to cure one human, then its worth it."

How far are you prepared to take this logic? Are you willing to accept that we perhaps genetically engineer one person condemned to misery by by their chromosomes if it will cure 100 human beings?

"Ah" you say "that's different." Why? Because humans have souls and mice don't? I don't see why anyone would believe that.

It is true that human beings have a more sophisticated level of consciousness, of course. But anyone who thinks that mice have completely no level of consciousness is simply foolish and dogmatic. Perhaps, then, we must accept that even a lowly mouse's limited awareness gives it a certain set of rights.

"But" you say, "what rights exactly?" Yes, well... now the ethics of this situation start to seem a little more subtle and interesting, a little less black and white than they initially did, don't they?

Brian Collinson, Oakville,

It is a freaking mouse. I guess it is a testmouse. If it can advance research I am all for it.

E

Fred_G, West Monroe, LA

Well put Byron.. You have indeed hit the nail on the head in your statement : "many of you would be surprised to find that without past research using animals for experimentation, you'd be dead from things that are easily cured nowadays".
Dana, go back to hugging trees and worshipping hippy ideology and leave the science to the more intellectual side of humanity!

James, Koh Samui, Thailand

Are humans mice? Do you think God would approve of these evil scientists torturing animals just so they can have fun experimenting on them and never coming up with a cure for anything? I think it's disgusting how we allow this animal holocaust to go on in the name of scientific research. These scientists still haven't come up with the cure for cancer, alzheimer's, and the countless of diseases humans and animals die from every year. But the animal experiments continue. Shame on us. Scientists aren't after cures, they're after funding. The big profit pharmaceutical companies would never allow them to find cures. They'd go out of business. Leave the animals alone!

A.K., Oakland, California

This could br useful research if it could help weed out psychopaths so we stop getting them as national leaders.

Kurt, Jamul, California

This is barbaric. What do schizophrenic mice have to do with schizophrenic humans? How do they know if their treatments are working? Absolutely stupid.

Dana, NY,NY,

A lot of these comments go back and forth, asserting their position but failing to address the points each raise. We will continue to speak past each other on issues such as these until we begin to address the fundamenal issue - one's worldview. Placing human life on the same level as animal life is completely consistent with an underlying worldview that rejects God and assumes that all that exists has a natural origin and has no real purpose. In this view of the world human life has no real difference than the existence of a rock. Both have natural origins, neither have any real purpose, neither have a significance above the other. Human life has no more right to exist than anything else. Some of the comments demonstrate the logical consequence of this view. The other worldview being presented is that God exists, created all things, and created humanity in his own image. With this worldview human life and animal life are profoundly different. With that there is all the difference.

Jim, Flower Mound, Texas

Sadly, most of the comments by the people opposed to this do nothing but display appalling ignorance of the processes of scientific research.

Do a bit of research. I think many of you would be surprised to find that without past research using animals for experimentation, you'd be dead from things that are easily cured nowadays.

Byron Quick, Waynesboro, Georgia, USA

Let's review some comments from across the pond...

"Interesting, but animals have little emotional range."

Was this comment about yourself by any chance?

"I am a member of the ASPCA, and love animals, so don't go there. "

I'll GO wherever I please in defence of helpless animals
quot; If I had to kill all the mice on earth to save one person "

Thankfully the earht doesn't belong to America and it's ignorant populace

I could go on but frankly I'm bored with ignorant, overweight Americans whose only response the problems is to kill their way out of them; go home yanks, you're not wanted here!

Andrew Murray, London, Great Britain

Come on people these are mice not humans. If it takes 100 mice fatalites to cure one human of this illness then its worth it. You animal rights activists need to get your priorties in check.

Chuck Smith, Midland, Texas

This is just revenge for that little present mice gave us so long ago. I think it was a little thing called the Black Death, or The Plague or some such nonsense.
Payback is a...well, you know.

Mo, Jacksonville, FL

<Kill...kill the mice...kill kill kill the mouses.....heh heh......wait..That was my other personality. So very sorry. Carry on.

Doug, Baton Rouge, La. >

Thats Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) or Dissociative Identity disorder (DID). Schizophrenics do not have other personalities or 'alter egos', although the term schizophrenia means 'split mind' in greek. The symptoms are detachment from reality - bizarre behaviour, cognitive jumbles, hearing voices from OUTSIDE their heads. It is truly a horrid mental illness as most illnesses both physical and mental tend to be, and if there is a chance it could be helped by testing on animals we would not hesitate to kill if they were making babies in our attics, then we should take it. If there was a cure for cancer attained through animal testing, would you all be agaisnt it then?

Sharleen Nall-Evans, Ellesmere Port, UK

It's a shame that in a seemingly intelligent world we just do not seem to get the facts.
the Fact is that If you need to harm one living creature for the Greater good and that creature has no choice to be the marytr
then how much good is in the big picture. Let God be the scientist as he has created all of life, he has his reasons and it would be in all our best interest to not fight his will and get on with it. Another thing how can you get a true study from a mouse that has had DNA added to its cell as there was no natural cause for the mental illnes, so you will find no natural cure for it.

Brandy Martinez, Blakeslee, USA/Pa.

I have an illness without cure--

I believe there are 2 America's--mine and everyone else's

I believe in 400$ haircuts, fly in my groomers, and live in 30,000 sq foot homes while I preach Global Warming

I have--liberosis--and --glup--there is no cure
As for rats and mice--let them experiment on trial lawyers

TA, Meadville, PA

Sir,

I have attempted on several occasions to contribute to this thread but none of my comments have been approved.

I note the disproportionate number if responses from the USA and I am wondering if there is some bias towards Americans at the Times.

In any event I abhor animal testing and do not feel we have the right to exploit sentient beings for our own gain.

The comments from the majoirty of Americans on this thread are beyond belief and I strongly urge you to allow some balance here, both geographically and the in the debate itself.

Andrew Murray, London, UK

Did you ever take tylenol for a headache? Do you know someone who uses insulin? Did you (or a woman you know) use an epidural during your/her labor? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you have already accepted animal testing through your actions, so you have lost all credibility in saying you are against animal testing.

Rebecca, Baltimore, MD

I hear the little rodent immediately registered as a Democrat.

Boomer, Macon, USA/GA

I cannot think of a single major breakthrough that WASN'T produced as a result of an animal experiment. I wonder how many more PEOPLE (and animals) will have to live a miserable, painful, or distressful life before we expose the animals rights movement for what they are...anti-human (and yes, we are animals too) and anti-pet.

Gary, San Jose, USA/California

For those of you out there who think we can achieve Nirvana - think again - society since the beginning of time has never consisted of people and plants and animals living in harmony and having group hugs. Let science try to help those suffering individuals who need help. This is a very sad disease that affects not only the victim but those around them. Environmentalists - stop using the environment as your religon and concentrate on something useful - like helping HUMAN BEINGS.

r rivers, Albuquerque, new mexico

How do you know that your mouse is schizophrenic? Likes different cheeses at different times? Does it squeek to itself, drink water alone? This is the dumbest thing I have heard of in a while, how about a scientific study to see if this process even worked before we assume that it did.

mark, johnsville, il

The buffoon who riled against "tree-huggers" [sic] is correct - we should adopt a total laissez faire 'tude toward animals and the earth in general. After all, animals were put here for our use. And 'sides, isn't it fun to torture them just for pleasure anyway? Humans rule!

patrick, SUV City, Texas

I'm sure mentally ill mice have been around for many years.

Andy, Birmingham, AL

I'm curious how they determine if a mouse is depressed or not.
Or do they mouse therapists and couches to look into this sort of thing.

brian v, raleigh, nc

Ignorant animal lovers! You havent the slightest idea on how science progresses and your highly opinionated, yet utterly baseless and insignificant, comments just litter internet forums everywhere. Besides the inhumane argument (which doesnt apply in this case, as they are only rodents), there is absolutely no reason why we cannot test lab rats to expand our knowledge into certain diseases... If you actually had some sort of decent tertiary education you wouldnt be up in arms for our furry four legged friends...

GG, ATL, Georgia

I thought the problems of mental illness were all a result of global warming and man's dependence on fossil fuel.

wally, Wynnewood, pa

This is a huge advancement for a horrible disease that affects 2 people in my family alone. Excellent work!

Linda, New York, NY

I believe we should use every possible tool against every diesese we are faced with. This is just another like using stem cells from embrios that were going to be destroyed anyway. Duh!

Nawlins, Brenham, TX

Is it just me but how do you gauge the impact of any treatment?

At least with the use of human subjects you can ask them.

Mice can hardly yell you if their symptoms are better or worse?

Strange.....

barry leaper, stonehaven, UK

In the US we have been breeding mentally ill mice for years and electing them to Congress. They make great senators.

Richard Hite, Galena, OH

I heard - and bear in mind that I would never, ever spread deliberately false information, for fun, to idiots like those whose profoundly retarded comments above would compell the Bhuddah himself to kick babies in frustration - that "They" intend next to breed a generation of mice who, due to a genetic abnormality, are driven to touch themselves on buses. The mice will also need to wear little helmets to reduce self-inflicted damage attributable to their compulsive head-banging.
Jack from London will be pleased to learn that a cure for his unfortunate condition is just over the horizon.

Greg, NORTHAMPTON, England

I don't know, Pat, I wouldn't say that mice sustain me. I live in the Southwest; if I was to see a mouse in my house I would kill it rather than risk exposing my family to hantavirus or bubonic plague. Seems to me that lab mice have a nobler purpose than house mice do.

Gena McLellan, Rio Rancho, NM

I don't think animal testing works.

They get all nervous and get the answers wrong.

Geo Dee, Heaven,

I propose that we avoid all animal experiments, and instead do our tests and vivisection on animal rights protesters.

Julian Morrison, Reading, UK

As someone struggling with a mentally ill family member I have to say that I'm outraged by this experiment in so many ways.

Mental illness is a terrible tragedy and by many reports it is increasing in our culture, despite all our access to medication. For the past 6 years I've been immersed in books, research, studies, medical journals, anything I thought might be helpful.

We need more studies on the human beings suffering from these conditions. And we need better care. It's going to cost millions to create these mentally ill mice and then probably the medications developed on them won't even work in humans due to species differences. Meanwhile we have medications that work, but people can't pay for them. We know people need ongoing care, caseworkers, assistance in independent living, and they need ongoing therapy. But how can they pay for these things? Mental illness destroys lives and bankrupts families and it's impossible to get help. Put the money where it matters.

Lyda, Washington, DC

Now they are going to have to breed some to become psychiatrists.

Larsinkima, Yakima, USA, Washington

As one who lost the love of his life to schizophrenia, I can only applaud any attempt to improve our understanding of this disease.

Life is a commodity, ask any national leader who sends young men into war. God is not all-knowing and all seeing. Hold any profoundly ill child in your arms. How can that be?

The subject mice would have have existed but for this experiment. At least they experienced that much life. We owe them nothing, save their service to us so bronze them and put them in a museum.

Adrian Vance, Lakeport, USA, California

What a horror to create these little defective creatures, living out their sad lives robbed of the balanced physiology nature intended. While something may be learned from these abominations, surely we are smart enough to advance our knowledge in this field in more clever and kinder ways. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Our compassion and advancement as a race is demonstrated in the way that we treat animals. Some would extend this to food animals, but that is not my point here. This is simply unnecessary when we have the power of gene sequencing for any species including human, functional MRI that shows the firing patterns of individual neurons in the brain, and so on. We can learn everything we need to know to advance this field without creating such defective creatures.

Roger, New York, USA

Certainly medical experimentation on animals is useful. I do not think many realize how many people would die or become seriously injured or disabled by medication if they weren't tested on animals first.

On the other hand, what a cruel stance it is for humanity, a sentient species to torture and kill animals not as powerful as ourselves, for our own benefit.

It is fairly backwards thinking if anyone who opposes experimentation on animals is not a vegetarian. Many people eat meat without considering that the animals sacrificed for their food were bred solely for the purpose of being food, and in many practices unintentionally tortured.

So why is it better to eat animals that have been tortured for our food (even though it is unnecessary) than to do experiments on a small number (comparatively) to benefit mankind?

Although our biological makeup is similar, the human brain is vastly different in structure from other animals, making the chance of useful insight (neurologically) small.

Josh, Ypsilanti,

I find it disgusting that some people are more concerned with helping mice than finding a cure for their fellow suffering humans. Either they are completely stupid and ignorant or they are purposefully hateful towards humans......It's a choice between a mouse and a human--which will you take?

John Rickman, Caracas, Nevada

<As a side note, what have the tree-huggers / animal-lovers done for society? >

I agree that this particular research using mice might well be justifiable. However, those of us who have no problem being associated with the term tree huggers have helped to limit industry's efforts to turn the earth into a parking lot. Look at an aerial map of southern West Virginia and south eastern Kentucky if you want to see what happens when tree huggers are ignored. Better still, look at the creek in front of my house that runs orange from coal mine runoff that kills any fish unlucky enough to swim into it.

James, Poca, WV/US

They all went out and bought Fall Out Boy CDs and became obssessed with celebrity culture

Nick, san antonio, tx

Quoted from BUAV :
Not only are these experiments scientifically unreliable in predicting effects in humans, but there are many non-animal alternatives that offer a cheaper, quicker and more accurate solution.

The only things that prevent change are the lack of political will to actively seek alternatives and the vested interests that take the path of least resistance. A change of hearts and minds is needed.

S. K., Geneva, Switzerland

The real choice is not between dogs and children, it is between good science and bad science; between methods that directly relate to humans and those that do not.' - Robert Sharpe, Ph. D., The Cruel Deception, 1988.

`I abhor vivisection. It should at least be curbed. Better, it should be abolished. I know of no achievement through vivisection, no scientific discovery, that could not have been obtained without such barbarism and cruelty. The whole thing is evil.' - Dr Charles Mayo, Founder Mayo Clinic New York Daily News, March 13, 1961.

I cannot think of a single major breakthrough that was produced as a result of an animal experiment. I wonder how many more million animals have to be sacrificed before we abandon the useless and barbaric practice of animal experimentation.'
- Dr Vernon Coleman, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

S, Birsbane, Australia

If that mouse weren't safely caged in a lab, it would probably already have been eaten by a snake, bird, or cat. if only it knew how lucky it was! Hmmm.... now that we are on the subject of cruelty, perhaps I should start eliminating the tortuous eagles, snakes, and cats that eat these poor defenseless mice alive?

Tara, Hollywood, FL

I've got a mental illness and when I read that story my immediate reaction was to feel very very sorry for the mouse. However I would like to be cured of mental illness. I don't know what I think on this topic really.

Lottie, Christchurch, New Zealand

To with intent cause harm to any living being is not a good thing. Of course many will think what will be the outcome of their actions, money, fame, etc. but the bottom line is "do no harm." To defend yourself or family is a different issue, but to cause pain for the common good is not right. Remeber their have been peoples who have killed and harmed because others were a different color, mentally ill, or pysically disabled.

amatha, morris, mo

Why, Karen of Gulfport, Ms? Is it because mice have no "souls" but foetuses have? That's merely your own, anthropocentric opinion, isn't it! Anyway, the truth probably lies (I love saying that) with Connie of Beijing!

elizabeth schumann, Paris, France

I smell a sequel to "Ratatouille" in the making (he, he, he).

Tom Davidson, Midlothian, Virgina, us

This is so disgusting that words become inadequate.

T. Bishop, London, UK

I think its brilliant to test on animals! I dont attempt to justify this by any false sense of morality by some of the posters here. All I know is that if it help me, my relatives, or my friends, sign me up!

As a side note, what have the tree-huggers / animal-lovers done for society?

Nowt, thats what.

Pete, Cov,

I'd always thought the first lunatic mouse was created by Walt Disney ...

Ed Zuiderwijk, Cambridge, UK

Science is too late. There is a breed running amok in Congress within the Democratic Party Leadership and must be quarantined ASAP, STAT.

Jordan Orosz, San Diego, California/USA

Are you kidding me? You will probably live to 90 not 60 years old and you can thank science and animal testing for that.
Are you really saying you would trade this miracle reality for the life of a Mice?
Say do your shoes have any leather in them. Poor cows...

Kerry, San Diego,

I thought John Edwards was the 1st mentally ill mouse.

Mike henry, Fort Washington, PA USA

Any modification of the natural order of things can open up dangerous variables that we may not like in the end. Some may not want to stop at genetically altering mice...Humanity needs to be careful with its scientific capabilities.

Kim C , Seekonk Mass, USA

I have a mental illness... I applaud this groundbreaking research. It's amazing that they have isolated this gene... I hope they continue working on this until they find a cure for such things.

Bravo!

Oh, and P.S. - would you rather them conduct experiements on humans?! How else would they accomplish this? ridiculous.

Hannah, Somerville, NJ

Of course. Let's tinker w/ the DNA of other animals to find a new treatment for our own defective gene pool - a treatment that will allow the hereditary component of schizophrenia to spread throughout our population (just like diabetes or PKU). We'll be in a rotten state when the drugs run out. Once again, we're spending millions on research to eradicate a problem that we already know how to solve. Breed the best, cull the rest - the solution is and always has been eugenics.

Salazar, Salem, U.S.

Kill...kill the mice...kill kill kill the mouses.....heh heh......wait..That was my other personality. So very sorry. Carry on.

Doug, Baton Rouge, La.

I'd like to see th same people who raise a stink about ruining the life of a genetically engineered mouse raise a stink about doing the same to human fetuses. Oh, but that's right, animals are sacrosanct, but not human life! It would be nice if both animal and human life were taken a little more seriously in this day and age. Perhaps we should teach more about the sanctity of life on all levels, not just mice, whales, baby seals, or any other cute/defenseless life form.

Ryan, West New York, NJ

Scientists breed world’s first liberal mouse

SCIENTISTS have created the world’s first liberal mice in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the illness known as liberalism.

Animal rights campaigners have condemned the research, saying that it is morally repugnant to create liberal animals doomed to mental suffering.

Animal Aids, a campaign group, said rodents were not a reliable way of modeling human disease. But reliable sources report that vermin are a reliable indicator of liberal pathology and closely mimic the liberal condition.

Jack, London,

We should use lawyers instead of rats. The scientists won't get as attached to them and there are just some things a rat won't do.

(you can also substitute "democrat" for "lawyer.")

Rufus T. Firefly, Lexington, SC U.S.A.

Of Mice & Men, screw the mice, START HUMAN TESTING TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! I say lets breed a new generation of many organisisms that are super-bio- built. Let the games begin. I want an engineered pig with new lungs and heart made from my DNA, yes ..... Brave NEW world...! ! ....!!....!


God bless..

Dick, D troit, MI

Just Great ! now if we can make them think they can whip a cat.

Floyd, Hanford, California

If this will eventually help humans suffering from this horrific condition, then I say go for it!! Mice can be cute pets or pests carrying disease.....their value cannot begin to be compared to humans, every one of which is precious to our Creator.

Tracy, Summerton , sc

If psychiatrists can make schizophrenic mice, soon they can make more schizophrenic people [although some of their drugs and psychosurgery can already do this] which would be a great boost to drug sales. It may also help them to create Manchurian Candidates. Keep up the work with mice in order to better understand people you geniuses.

Kevin Hall, Quincy, Massachusetts/USA

I think they should not test on animals at all, but should use the garbage from our prison systems. That is one way to know for sure that their test results are correct, and safe for the rest of the population.

Mary, Chicago, IL.

When intelligent extraterrestrials decide to use humans in the manner which we use animals... I hope they use these researchers first.

Mike Metter, Moorville, KY,

Great.
Another democrat running for President.

SteveB, Oceanside, CA

I agree with Pat from Venice, CA. I believe that the human species is like a fast growing, cancerous tumor of the planet.

Alex, Jamaica Plain, MA

Maybe we should be more concerned about who will own the patent to these cells and what they might use them for. What if some of these genes got into a population of people, Accidentally or otherwise?

townie, Randolph, USA

How do they react to the ink blot tests?

Joe Zingher esq, Gurnee, USA/Illinois

Maybe we can find the "Animal rights campaigner" gene mutation and insert that into a mouse as well. Then we might finally have a shot at curing those poor benighted souls of their affliction. (Or maybe we just get them a good science education first, and I'd like an explanation of exactly how the genetically modified mice are somehow "suffering").

PETA: People for the Eating of Tasty Animals

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

So now we have a mouse that what : squeaks funny, or runs backwards backwards on the tread wheel, or worst yet does not like cheese. Folks, people have been breeding mentally ill individuals since the beginning of time, and doing a great job at it, look at our Congress and Senate. We have a mountain of already proven genetic data on humans; what are the mice going to prove. Some folks with these traits should not mingle with the opposite sex.

Richard , Chicago , IL

Dumb question: How do they know this is the first schizophrenic mice? Is there a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for mice that I'm not aware of?

Timothy Watson, Caroline County, Virginia, United States

Pat...tell us what you think of stem cell research... The biggest mistake we make is that all the we know is all that is known or all that will be known... Pat... you join the ranks of brave souls from centuries ago that thought that man would be extinct by now...Man is the only resource that has value.... enough value to creat a vastly safer and better world with each generation.. I aplaud this and all research that furthers the creativity and longevity of man.

Terry Adelmann, Phoenix, Arizona

Presumably there is now a shortage of "outhouse rats"?

Mark Plawchan, Scottsdale, AZ

I can hear it now...a weepy animal rights activist saying: "you can't do that, they're so much like us".....

PT Quinn, Tupelo, Mississippi

My ex-wife was schizophrenic and ended up killing our pet mouse because she thought it was a scientist...

jahoby, Point Pleasant, USA

You people are the ones that the testing should be done on. People have all sorts of problems, and eventually WE DIE. That's how it is. Why should other species that aren't a mess suffer so that we can live so comfortably. Yes, someone in my family HAD schizophrenia so please don't waste your comment saying some moronic comment like "Oh, until you know the suffering..." Blah blah blah. We need to stop making other species suffer for our conceit. We aren't the only living things on the planet. Maybe we should realize that.

Sue, Atlanta,

Um, how do you tell if a mouse is really schizophrenic? Does it hear little squeaks in its head telling it to do things? How does one know whether or not it experiences hallucinations? Do the researchers have a mouse telepath on the payroll? Sounds like the mouse is behaving much the same way it would if it had gotten into a scientist's coffee.

Paul, Indianapolis , USA

I don't see animals as "disposable tools" (Re: Pat, Venice, CA). I have several cats, two dogs and numerous wild birds that benefit from feeders.

I also have a mental illness and hope research finds improved and more successful methods of treatment.

My father had cancer. Lab animal testing has improved the cure rate. My mom had heart disease. Again, lab animals provided the testing grounds. Antibiotics for the myriad bacterial infections that plague mankind? Research on animals in labs.

And for those who purchase certain cosmetics or hair care products because the manufacturer states the product is not tested on lab animals, take a close look at the ingredients. Chances are excellent each ingredient has previously been tested and determined to be safe for use on humans. Manufacturers can't afford to create products they aren't certain will be safe.

Trudy, Poplar Bluff,

Does anyone have the reference for this work

Adrian, Fremont, ca

The mice were found squeeking to themselves and believing themselves to be mighty mouse!

Steve O, manalapan, nj

What is it that makes cruelty to animals OK and cruelty to humans bad? Is it just that we are the same species? Does that mean that if ET shows up it would be OK to torture and BBQ him? Is it that we are more intelligent? The average Jew is more intelligent than the average American. Does that mean it would be OK for Jews to perform American experiments?

Clive, London,

they knew it was mentally
ill when it rushed out to buy
paris hilton's CD.

david petraitis, cahokia, illinois, usa

Pat, that's simply an emotional outburst. Doesn't every species do what it can to promote its own survival? Don't you marvel and admire that trait? Why do you reserve your rantings for humans?

Tell the rest of the carnivores on the planet to stop killing for their own, selfish interest. Tell the lions that all life is sacred. Tell the tigers that they're killing the very world that sustains them.

My guess is that you believe that our intelligence, and our ability to do research is the result of evolution. Survival of the fittest, dear - and we're the fittest.

p.s. - try the roast gazelle, it's wonderful

Scott, Chelan, WA

life is life is life is life...why wreck ones creatures life for the sake of another.

Human pride that it is the suprior creature is truly disgusting

Kevin, Shanklin, UK

To Chris, Dayton, OH

Your piece about not all living creatures are equal, and that we kill innocent living creatures such as bacteria when we wash and shower is ridiculous. I do not mean to insult your intelligence but how can you class a non-thinking, non-feeling entity such as bacteria than that of an animal such as a mouse, which has a brain, feels pain, can suffer. Bacteria do not have any sense of pain like a "innocent" mouse can.

I cannot comprehend why researchers test on animals when humans are completely different from mice or rabbits or dogs. A cure that may cure a mouse from cancer, or schizophrenia will not necesserily cure a human from the same.

Alexandra, Blackpool, United Kingdom

They are just mice, Humans are far more important then any mouse is. Lets try and fix human ailments, and if it takes the lives of mice, so be it!

wr, watertwon, wi

If strapping a pair of battery cables to a monkey's head might help find a cure for AIDS ten years down the road, I have two things to say: the red is positive and the black is negative.

Rob, Ogden, UT

Why not experiment on Kusihich & Edwards they're expendable & not even leading the pack anyway.

Tom Lopez, Carlsbad, California

We need a way to look inside to how things work. You can't just say that Animal testing just never works and we shouldn't do it. When it comes to a brain, there is so much that we just don't know - not just a human brain but any brain system animal or otherwise. Getting the chance to affect a brain and come anywhere close to duplicating a brain related problem is essential to understanding.. How can one model a brain problem in a computer if we can't build a computer that is like a brain for instance..

Wes Zuber, Wrightwood, CA

Why are mice NOT too valuable to use for research? Because they're different than you? Don't speak the same language? Aren't as smart or powerful? These are all the reasons used by oppressors throughout history. Be careful... you sound like a Nazi when you say another living thing has less rights than you just because...

Silas Crouch, Wabash, IN

Why is this even a moral debate? mice/rats aren't even comparable (physiologically and mentally) to the livestock we eat daily. Why do protestors target scientists and not farmers. I'd happily slaughter 1,000,000 mice to save a person.

Dr T, leics,

The inescapable implication of this study is that schizophrenia is a "physical" illness which attacks the brain, as opposed to some mysterious thing we call "mental" illness. Nevertheless, this simple point seems to have been lost on the article's author, who writes:

"It is believed to be the first time an animal has been genetically engineered to have a mental illness. Until now they have been bred only for research into physical conditions such as heart disease."

Sadly, this shows just how deeply the mental/physical dichotomy is rooted in our thinking, and why there is such a stigma associated with these illnesses.

Dave, Tallahassee, USA

When we humans do macabre and tortuous experiments on innocent living creatures to accommodate our own bad habits and excesses, then we are committing atrocities, simple and plain.

A society that has lost sight of the agony it creates in other living creatures, is a society of primal, amoral ignorance.

Intelligent, perhaps, yet amoral, even diabolical. To make excuses, is to acknowledge our lack of conscience, of decency.

Ellie, San Diego, CA

Guess we have one more democrat.

Jeff, Surprise, AZ, USA

Ive watched my cousin the same age as me develop schizophrenia. This girl was so smart with so much potential and had dreams of going to the University of Berkley. It started our senior year of high school and just took over so fast. Now four years later its so hard to see her always checking in and out of the mental hospital. I dont like the thought of having to test animals but I cant bear the thought of seeing my cousin so torn up inside mentally she lost all her hair and honestly doesn't understand whats happening to her. If scientist are smart enough to find a cure for this horrible disease testing rats then thats is amazing advancement for the medical field.

andrea, san diego, CA

What a superb blog handle "mentally ill mouse", wish id have thought of that, or maybe i did in my alter ego, must go, the people are returning, just time to log-off and scamper behind the skirting boards.

Simon, Leeds, U.K.

heres a sensible comment for a change>>>
OK so u animal rights people hete that mice are sufferig for this scientific gain, but shouln't you guys campaign against mousetrap users and rodenticide makers primarily??? at least this has a benefit to ill humans. both ways kill mice so sort out the mousetraps and poison first, THEN post comments on this science-based article.

David James Hickey, Cork, Ireland

Schizophrenia is a horrible disease that devestates the victim and their family. Medications help in some cases to lessen the frequency and severity of major psychotic events, but much more money and research is needed. If you have any compassion or humanity in you - have it for the patients and their families.

Robert O'Leary, Port Ludlow , USA

I see many comments on here of "animals are different to humans - what's the point?" but - we're all mammals - our physical structure is much the same. Without animal testing, we would not have discovered the many benefits of organ transplants, IVF, the many drugs available for many conditions. These things all had to be tested - and you all know you would not condone it on humans, so how else?

Amanda McCabe, Wiltshire, England

I think they use cats, Daryl, and dogs, and rabbits, etc. My uncle did research into rheumatoid arthritis, and he used rabbits (he wasn't happy about it, but it had to be done).

Animals shouldn't be used for cosmetics testing, but should we stop trying to solve real medical issues? Because you can't do the research without the animals, unless you're prepared to harm, even kill, people instead.

starling, Lancaster,

To: Tony, Lake Worth, Florida

Yes, they should get some Liberals to do this testing on....the conservatives ARE ALREADY INSANE!!!!

qcman, Ider, Alabama

What a horror to create these little defective creatures, living out their sad lives robbed of the balanced physiology nature intended. While something may be learned from these abominations, surely we are smart enough to advance our knowledge in this field in more clever and kinder ways. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Our compassion and advancement as a race is demonstrated in the way that we treat animals. Some would extend this to food animals, but that is not my point here. This is simply unnecessary when we have the power of gene sequencing for any species including human, functional MRI that shows the firing patterns of individual neurons in the brain, and so on. We can learn everything we need to know to advance this field without creating such defective creatures.

Roger, New York, USA

I'm more empathetic and sympathetic than all of you. I not only want to avoid harming bacteria, I also want to protect viruses, and prions.

Rather than dissipate my energy on a generalized campaign, I am making a commitment, and I am immediately devoting myself exclusively to protecting a particular RNA virus, the tobacco mosaic. Once the tobacco mosaic is able to rest easy knowing it can sustain itself by feasting on tobacco and tomato crops (which I anthropomorphically know), I'll devote my attention to protecting prions.

Quite naturally, all of you lovers of God's creation and all living things, will support my campaign to prevent intervention by humans to limit mad cow disease, and its human form. Is it right that prions suffer to enable people to live less dangerously. I suggest a resounding "No" is the proper answer provided by loving feeling caring people. I'm also organizing a "Prion Pride" group and solicit your membership. Prions have feelings and rights too.

Johnson, Utah, USA

At first it seems wrong, but after reading the comments posted, I think the potential benefit to human kind outways the pain of a few hundred mice. Afterall this isn't a bit of fun dreamed up by a few twisted scientists, the experiments are scientific and carried out to analyse something that is extreamely difficult to test on humans. If you think about the pain and suffering that would be caused if the same tests would be made on humans, there's a very strong case for testing on mice instead.

John kennedy, london, marylebone

"Mickey, put down that knife!"
"Sorry, Minnie -- the voices in my head tell me that you have to die!"

Blake Carrington, Aintatown, Nowhere Fast

I just love the way that some people on here (most of whom don't actually know what science is, let alone have any qualifications in it) still think that animal testing is a good idea.

From a scientific point of view, it doesn't even work.

If the results of the experiments show what the scientists want then they are upheld as the gospel truth but if the results don't show what the scientists want they will simply say "animals are different to humans" and ignore the results anyway. Remember Thalidomide?

Animal testing is simply a 'rubber stamp' and a complete waste of time.

Ian, Manchester, UK

Great place to try some new treatments or medicines. How would you like to walk around in daytime and seeing the world as others see them in dreams. Like, your head in 1 place and your body in another?

Steve, Los Angeles, Ca/USA

Mice are small rodents that live for only 3 years and their use in science is indispensable. Those that belong to the animal rights campaigns are incorrect. We have a moral obligation to discover and create cures for diseases. if these organizations believe that it is better to study on humans, then they're insane and morally repugnant.

Brett B, Mosinee WI, USA!! WI

Mental illness is a terrible think to suffer with. Unless you know someone who is schizophrenic, how can you comment. I know people with this illness and it is horrible to see their suffering. Rats spread all kinds of disease and if they give their lives to find a cure so one person doesn't have to suffer from schizophrenia, then I'm all for it. I'm sure the people who are against using rats take their own mental health for granted. Walk in a schizophrenic's shoes, or their families, before you judge whether a rat should die for a cure.

Dia, New York, NY

Cats and monkeys have been and are used as test subjects in Neuroscience studies. Rats are used to model human diseases because their brains have the lower functioning areas of a human brain and are easily operated on - also, only hardline animal activists give a crap about them being used. One could argue that testing on rats in part of the human survival process, because the testing done on these schizophrenic rats could lead to new treatments for schizophrenic humans.

Eric, St. Peter, MN

This is ridiculous.

'“These mutant mice may provide an important new tool ..." bla bla bla.... B.S.

How sad. Another example of animal abuse in the name of science.

ak, hou, Texas

Pat, you hippie. We're not going to wipe ourselves off the planet by breeding mice and other animals for the benefit of the human race. If this has even the potential to ease human suffering, it will be well worth it. People like you are more concerned about animals suffering, than your own fellow humans!

I bet you'd be singing a different tune if you or a loved one suffered from a mental illness like this.

Zack, Charlotte, NC

There must be a number of people here living in mouse-infested homes, as they find it too cruel to set mouse traps. Even if you use a catch-and-release trap, it's probably a greater trauma for the mouse than to be bred to have mouzophrenia. I mean, how bad can it be? Does a mouse even realize he's hearing voices? It is such blatant ignorance and hypocrisy for Animal Aid to claim that rodents are not an effective way to model human disease. If they cared about human disease, they would have named their organization Human Aid, and they'd be celebrating this discovery with the rest of the sane.

Erik, Philadelphia, USA

My oldest son has been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia for the past seven years. He is currently "warehoused" in state prison for having stabbed his brother, who had attempted to help him through a psychotic moment. Schizophrenia is a mental illness caused by chemical imbalances in brain function. The ability to produce a control group of mice with the same brain dysfunction as seen in humans should be an extremely powerful tool to assisting psychiatrists and pyschologists trying to help my son in his fight to come back to society. More effective anti-psychotic medicines will quickly emerge thanks to having this pool of genetically engineered mice. I wish to thank these geneticist for this significant breakthrough, on behalf of my son and others who suffer with him.

Joe, West Hills, CA

It's better to do the experiments directly on humans. That way we can save the mice and rats.

Max, Dallas, US,TX

mice are mice and if it would advance the well-being of humanity, and save the life of ONE human being, i would gladly slaughter a mouse, let alone a monkey, whale or cow.

while all life is sacred and anyone who abuses animals is sick and disgusting it would be very foolish of us to forget how almost 90 percent of the medicines and procedures that are used to save lives today all required animal testing. many breakthroughs in science have also yielded positive results for many other living creatures on this planet.

before you can be willing to condemn this science, i ask you to take the diabetes medication out of the hands of a child who needs it, i ask you to tell those around the world suffering from diabilitating diseases that the life of a mouse is far to valuable to waste.

Brett Abrams, Madison, WI

Animal research has produced many medicines and surgical techniques that have eased human suffering and is continuously providing knowledge that is allowing us to live longer, happier lives than previous generations. As someone who has fully recovered from a life-threatening pulmonary condition with the help of medical intervention, I know first hand the value of animal research. WITHOUT IT, I WOULD HAVE DIED AT THE AGE OF 25.

Raymond, Santa Clarita , CA

"Mice, rats, cows, whales...whatever the cost, hook it up to electrodes or slice it open so we can make a better world for homo sapiens."

What's better - that we learn from them, or that we eat them as food?

Call me when we stop eating animals. Then we'll tackle using them for scientific research.

Joe Blough, Toronto, Canada

How does breeding, studying, and killing mice contribute to our own demise?

I love animals, too, but this research will save lives and prevent human suffering. Pat in Venice, CA, if you or a loved one ever develop a disease preventable through research, I wonder if you will feel differently.

Mark , Bay area, CA

It is disgusting that Animal Aid and their ilk value the lives of mice above the lives of humans. Their real motivation seems to be hatred for humanity, not love for animals.

Paul, San Diego, CA

If this research can prevent or sucess find a cure for this debilitating disease then it is supremely important to use these little creatures in this way. So many people and families are devastated by this blight, and I have personal experience.
I live in a rural region and we battle mice daily in the winter and I rid myself of these desease bearing rodents by snapping their necks in traps.

Mike, Covington, USA

Wow! excellent news. This could really help Bush, Cheney et al.

Stanzler, NY, USA

Maybe they should genetically breed fanaticism in mice and find out if there's a cure for PETA.

Jus, Las Vegas,

Sorry Pat (from Venice, CA) ... humans ARE more important than mice. Not all living creatures are equal. Every time you wash your hands you are killing "innocent" living creatures with the soap. To live is to kill.

You claim that "all life is sacred" -- which presumably means that you viw ALL life (from bacteria through humans) as being equal. Do you ever wash your hands or take a shower? If so, you're killing thousands or millions of living organisms in the process. I assume you think it's ok to kill bacteria? Why so? Why is bacteria ok to kill, but mice are not? Isn't "all life sacred" to you?

Chris, Dayton, OH

What do they need mice for? Could have just grabbed some liberals and got the same result.

Tony, Lake Worth, USA/Florida

To Pat from Venice, CA~
Kudos!! You took the words out of my mouth! I agree 100%. What we do to other living creatures we utimately do to ourselves and man is the most vile, selfish, and destructive creature on the planet. Our demise will come at our own hand if we continue to disrespect God's creatures the way we do!!

G. W., Bellhaven,, New York, USA

Cats of the world: be Very Afraid, if these things ever break out!

Jeff Friedberg, Albuquerque, NM, USA

It's just a mouse!
I am sure any animal rights ladies on here would have there husband kill it if they saw it running across their kitchen floor, but put it in a lab and run some tests to try to help the human population and suddenly we become murderers and abusers.

Robert, Auburn, IN

There is a definitional problem here. Schizophrenia is the name of a composite of behaviours (signs and symptoms). The relationship between the latter and any 'genetic' substratum remains correlational. Calling the mice in question 'sufferers from schizophrenia (or mental illness)' only makes sense if 'schizophrenia' can be fully reduced to such genetic correlates. As far as I know, this reduction remains arbitrary.

Even if such genetic correlates were to be proven (and we still are at a great distance from that), it can be plausibly argued that 'schizophrenia' can only be a human disorder. This because the formation of its complex semantics does require of emotional and cognitive resources that only a human mind can provide.

Calling such mice 'schizophrenic' is therefore, wrong, tendentious and part of the rhetoric of current neurobiological research. Journalists should not be complicit to this.

John L Austin, Oxford, UK

I for one think that even bacterial life is sacred. How many of you CARELESSLY wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap and think NOTHING of it. I can't beleive you would kill and murder thousands if not millions of living beings....Lest we not forget that only 2 billion years ago the DNA that makes up our genetic code was evolving in bacteria. What evolution have we prevented by having immune systems. I for one have begun taking Anti-immune pills to prevent the senseless murder of bacteria, and i hope all of you wll follow my lead.
BACTERIA AID

Last time i checked, there was no "Fairness Doctrine" in scientific reporting, so i think it is unnecessary to ask the opinion of all the "Aid" organizations for each story.

Bacteria Aid, Spoakane , Wa/USa

"Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are like us.' Ask the experimenters why it is morally OK to experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are not like us.' -- Professor Charles R. Magel

Anne Lieberman, West-byGD-Virginia, USA

Pls have your priorities right - to animals rights campaigners.

john yang, Bangkok, Thailand

I think its great they got this far with the mice. I think its a stupid sentimentalism to say that mice are people. They aren't. they are mice.

People suffer in large from schizo because they live in a society that they have problems interacting with, but mice are not humans and don't have the same type of social structures. they can feel pain, but its not clear they feel anguish.

In the end this could alleviate the deep-suffering of millions of people. but I guess you could just have your mouse instead. Maybe these nimrods should volunteer for the medication testing.

Mice in real life are not like the toons in Rattetoui. But then non-schizo people know its just a cartoon.

Stan, Campbell, ca

No, Pat from CA, what is sad is that 1% of the human population suffers from this terrible illness.

What is even sadder is that research into mental illness is likely to be hampered by animal rights activists who feel that short-term animal suffering is more important that long-term human suffering.

Should we treat animals used in medical testing with every ethical concern possible? Yes, absolutely. Should we treat them as human equals? No.

Isobel, Oxford,

Hey..................... Michael Vick might be interested in this kind of research.

Smack, Jacksonville, FL

My two cats would love to play with schizoidial mice, when will they be available for purchase? Let's see, I have dead snakes, chipmunks, moles, mice, birds, baby rabbits and squirrels laid at my front doorstep on a regular basis...the next thing these animal rights morons will think of is mandatory declawing laws for all domestic felines!

Ben, Marietta, GEORGIA

Interesting............the same people who would say human embyro creation for stem cells is a good thing, say using mice to help another disease is rephrehensible..................hypocrites!

kim, grove, wi

This is great - we are one step closer to creating an unlimited supply of postal employees.

Frank N Stein, Springfield,

@ Daryl, Tooting.

That's because MICE share a lot of human dna so it makes sense to use them.

Kris Brackets, Adelaide,

How can one tell if a mouse is mentally ill? " . . . it is morally repugnant to create an animal doomed to mental suffering." I wonder if the same people think it's at all repugnant to create human embryos for the sole purpose of experimentation. When else has a mouse been worth more than a human?

Donny, Houston, USA

My suggestion: Pat and everyone who believes as she does are obliged to give up eating anything that has ever been alive.

Someone Else, Somewhere, Or Other/State?

Oh, it's okay to kill human embryos in the name of research but MICE are too valuable to use for research.Amazing.

steve, westfield, usa

When I first saw the headline, I thought, "can PETA be far behind?", and I was right. Better to delay possible help for troubled humans than to engineer the discomfort of a mouse. The world just needs to go on without these people.

Steve, St. Joseph, Missouri, USA

I think Animal Aid may be wrong. "Mentally ill rodent" sounds like the precise definition of a member of the Democrat Party. They definitely model "human disease."

Jim, Altamonte Springs, FL

Who decides whether rats are OK for testing but not cats; monkeys but not dolphins? When a wild animal kills another, this is for survival. Is testing on a rat really a part of the survival process of humans?

Daryl, Tooting,

They should have used some whinging people from animal aid ;-o

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

They could have received the same results by showing them video's of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Mike, New York , , New York , USA

I presume the next project is going to be a mouse terrorist or a mouse politican, or why not a mouse football star.

Bess, Uppsala, Sweden

Schizophrenia it self is a contested and debated subject.
A mouse model of schizophrenia may tell us something about biochemistry or neurology but it is not possible to scale up from this model to the complex human experience that we call schizophrenia. These stories about the genetics of schizophrenia keep appearing in the press, they have been appearing regularly or at least 10 years with no real advances for the science, see posting from Connie earlier in this thread. Perhaps this is more propaganda from Sane and those who support the genetic theory of schizophrenia. How about some articles on the real cuts in NHS mental health services under a Labour government?

Bill Posters, Leeds, UK

kudos for breakthru. though won't testing of the schizo-mice make it become more schizo?

ohyeah, austin,

This is modern science.

jj, bengal, india

Good. Now he's well-qualified to run a country.

Jack, Hollywood, USA

I am reporter from China Daily website, I am skeptical about this article, because there was a similar report in 2004 that scientists in Taxas University had bred genetically engineered schizophrenic mice. Please check the information.

Connie, Beijing , China

Pat, your ignorance is disgusting. If I had to kill all the mice on earth to save one person from a debilitating mental illness, I would do it instantly, and without remorse.

I wonder what your definition of life is? All things that are cute? If people with your mentality ran the world, we'd still be in the dark ages with rodent borne bubonic plague running rampant.

Of course bacteria is life too, we wouldn't want to harm it - or should I say them?

Ryan, Jeferson City, MO

I certainly hope that those who freak out over experiments on mice have not had abortions.

Karen, Gulfport, MS,

Obviously, the animal rights people do not realize that schizophrenia is, according to lucid sufferers, and I quote from some of them "worse than cancer, because it doesn't kill you as quickly."

As to mimicing this horror in mice, if a Scottish family's genetics can be bred into mice and make them ill, I consider that to be strong evidence that the reverse is also true.

I am a member of the ASPCA, and love animals, so don't go there.

This is one of the most important studies I have read -- ever!

ApolloVet, Jacksonville, Florida

As one who suffers from mental illness, the idea that humans would create this suffering deliberately, even though it may ultimately help me, is reprehensible. If you don't have a mental illness, you have no idea how awful it can be. Forcing another to experience this is so sad. Shame on you if you think this is okay.

S, boston,

Cool! Call it John Edwards!

Elizabeth, suffolk, VA

Something more to do with a rodent.

Dr. Mary, Cincinnati, Ohio

WE HAVE ENOUGH, THANK YOU!

Well, at least they don't have any need to do the same with people!

Garth Strong, San Diego, USA

people do all sorts of horrible things to animals, this sort of experimentation should be very limited,

George Baker, London, UK,

Typically the quality of human treatment increases exponentially with the discovery of an animal model. Perhaps some of the detractors worrying about the comfort of a mouse (which has a limited cebral cortex to comprehend the effects of a mental illness) , would rather their fellow man unnecessarily suffer. I don't think the parkinson's patient would have appreciated a ban on the use of MPP treated, model primates, when this model led to treatments that drastically increase the lifespan/quality of life of these patients. Perhaps these activists should take up a useful cause rather than worrying about well-fed lab animals (it's not just the law, but poorly treated lab animals = bad data).

Michael, Little Rock, AR

So what happens when one of them escapes and the breed spreads all over the world? Only Alfred Hitchcock or Dr. Moreau would know.

John, Santa Barbara, CA

The solar system will eventually go BOOM, destroying any life that remains on Earth anyway. That's what Nature really is. It's cold and empty and 99.99999999% lifeless. We have no future and neither do the rats, so we might as well make ourselves comfortable in the meantime.

IT's also amusing how many environmentalists are either direct or indirect beneficiaries of animal testing. Kind of how they want you to stop wasting energy, but they spend hours on their computers writing witless diatribes on random internet sites.

Neil, San Francisco, CA

Pat,
What makes it morally wrong for an animal to be genetically bred to have a disease and not a human, who's not given a full understanding of what goes into their food, and the disorders that follow as a result. Even further than food supply, to the extent we manipulate our society through medicine and even within how we govern our society. I don't think we'll ever stop the path we're on, to our own demise or otherwise. How will we ever stop hurting 'innocent' animals who don't have a say in what we do to them, when we do the very same to each other.

When people get upset about the things we do to animals, I've always wondered why we think what we do to ourselves is any different...

jv, Whitemoor, UK

Ha! It is the second mentally ill mouse. The first was Pinky of "Pinky and The Brain"

Gene, Houston, TX, USA

So very well said, Pat. I agree 100%

Philippe, Philadephia, PA

Dear Drudge,

I have a BS in Physics, but I've spent most of the time working with people with mental problems, especially Autism. I studied Psychology at IU, Bloomington Indiana, and saw how to teach, just by training a white rat! I must say the early childhood education teachers and paras have no idea how to work with mentally disabled kids, let alone adults.
I use a small flute and found the Barney Song their favorite song. The other teachers and paras would send the 'bad' kids to a small chair, yelling and forcing the child which had a reverse effect, making the child to act out even more. I woul use soft, soothing words, and take them by one arm, with empathy and gentleness to a large open room keeping the lights off, and playing Mozart and other Classical Music, the room filled with large cuddly stuffed pillows and stuffed animals, letting them lie down, and allowing them to relax until the child felt like joining the group when they felt relaxed.
Tender Love!

Donald Beggs, San Francisco, CA

I'm not sure Animal Aid has tested on enough animals to definately say "rodents were not a reliable way of modelling human disease". Have them call me when they have done enough testing to convince me.

Derek, Brighton, MA

Continue on with this ground breaking research. The population as a whole must have knowledge to combat these devastating illnesses. They ruin and destroy peoples lives.

Shirley Davis, Indianapolis, IN 46260,

It is sad that we view this planet and all life on it as disposable tools for whatever ends we deem necessary. Mice, rats, cows, whales...whatever the cost, hook it up to electrodes or slice it open so we can make a better world for homo sapiens.

As long as we continue in this way, we continue on the path to our own demise, for we kill the very world that sustains us. Only when we understand that all life is sacred, and preserving our Earth and all life on it can be our only priority, will we finally have a future.

Nature will continue long after we're gone. If we should succeed in wiping ourselves off the planet, we won't be missed.

Pat, Venice, CA

Hey, Cindy from Las Vegas -- so I assume that means you reject all life-saving medication and surgeries that have resulted from animal testing? Think before you talk.

Daniel, NYC,

My response to Pat in Venice, CA.
Uhhh.....what?

Chris, Philadelphia, PA

Pat, you're so right. This is sick. Someone should give the researchers a mental illness and see how they like it. These are nature's innocents defiled. Have we completely lost the ability to identify with others outside our immediate family and social circle? I thought that was what made us human.

Jasmine, Victoria, Canada

I once saw a scitzo mouse. It recame that way after being caged too close to a radio tuned to political talk. The mouse eventually chewed off its own feet and died. Its owned has not advanced beyond nail biting, however, he does rant about 9-11 being an "inside job".
PS - If mankind is ever eliminated, it will be by forces greater than our own ability to create or avoid.

M, Austin, TX

The naysayers would be the first to sacrifice a mouse if it was their son or daughter affected

Raphael, Cold Lake, Canada

Now you need to breed a mentally ill cat to catch the mice, and a mentally ill dog to catch the cat .
Good you found the gene now find a way to remove it . You don't need more crazy mice .

Jim, Somersworth , U.S.A. / N.H.

If this helps fight the devastating illness, then why not use rats to combat this. All the animal freaks in the world need to realize that we are trying to make human life normal for people who otherwise would never have a chance.

If Pat has a better suggestion the tell us all. If not, then be quiet and let the researchers and scientists find a way to cure one of the most devastating mental illnesses known to man.

CD, San Diego, ca

Sorry Pat (from Venice, CA) ... humans ARE more important than mice. Not all living creatures are equal. Every time you wash your hands you are killing "innocent" living creatures with the soap. To live is to kill.

You claim that "all life is sacred" -- which presumably means that you viw ALL life (from bacteria through humans) as being equal. Do you ever wash your hands or take a shower? If so, you're killing thousands or millions of living organisms in the process. I assume you think it's ok to kill bacteria? Why so? Why is bacteria ok to kill, but mice are not? Isn't "all life sacred" to you?

Chris, Dayton, OH

How are the scientists controlling for environmental factors if both parents have the genetically modified DNA for schizophrenia and mood disorders (such as bipolar?)?

I think that mutant mice have limited use for modelling human illness other than showing scientists their power as god.

Ann Mere, Los Angeles, USA/CA

Is it DISC1 gene?

CopperKettle, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Gee, Venice, CA. Who'd a thunk it :rollseyes:

Jen, Las Vegas, NV,

Whats next? breeding homosexual mice? Got a cure for that?

Wil, N. Richland Hills, tx

to pat
in venice,ca
your totally blind to the rules of nature! if we were the lower class animals we be using us ! it call survial of the fittest !oh wait we are now above that ,,,,,,well how did we get there..test thing's on other things ! the best thing about all of this is that we will be able to treat both humans and animals in the end game !

patrick, coventry , r.i

Now if they could only make a homosexual mouse, we could find a cure.

Lou Ventino, Revere, MA

Mental illness is awful and anything that might help the people that live with this defect including their families and friends is a good thing.
As for the mice, I live in Orlando and I asked Micky who is the most well known mouse and he said that it was fine to do the research. We had a long talk about humans. He thinks that we need all of the help we can get.

Jeff Shaffer, OrlandoFlorida,

I wonder if the depressed mice experienced hallucinations, delusions and hardships finding apartments the way humans with schizophrenia do. They should have asked the mice that while they were asking them if they were depressed or not.

Mike, Lyndon, VT

Tell you what, Pat. Why don't you just go buy some carbon credits from Big ALGORE....or better yet, give up eating tomatoes as it's proven they feel pain.

Joe, Leesburg, , FL

Shirley Davis, what a nice person you seem to be,I would love someone to experiment with you,its funny but its women who carry out most of these dreadful things on animals,why do you think that is shirl?

Mr Barnett, singen, Switzerland

We have been creating mentally ill creatures for years, most are unfit to hold down a normal job so end up as politicians which allows the full extent of their madness a chance to express itself. Perhaps its time we stopped the experiment, or are we too late?

Steve P, Leeds, England

What's the old saying..If hooking jumper cables up to an animals brain will extend my life, two things: Red is positive; Black is negative.

jack, Dallas , Tx

Now the human race is one step closer to finding the cure to the mental illness that afflect souless powermad women like Hillary Clinton that sacrifice their daughters moral upbringing to ride the coat tails of a powerful adulterer.

Johnny , san francisco, ca

Animal rights idiots are white house appointees right?

Ed wode, Long Beach, Ca

oh no, PETA might go nuts over this. What if instead of schizophrenia, they had the rage virus like in "28 Days Later." I can so see PETA opening the cages...

Andrew, L.A, Mexifornia

Hate to break it to the author, but genetically altered mice have been around for a long time and not just for physical conditions like heart disease. Mouse models for depression, learning disability, ADHD, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and more have been around for years, if not decades. This may well be the first model for schizophrenia and that is excellent for science -- these models are not only of great importance in curing disease, they are not cruel to rodents. Do you really think a mouse knows or cares that it is mentally ill?

Mr. Science, Ann Arbor, MI

Interesting, but animals have little emotional range.

Samuel, Miami, FL,

I think it is sick to experiment on animals

Cindy, Las Vegas, USA Nevada

sorry for the mice, but i had a sister who was schizophrenic and lived a sad life, and died due to secondary circumstances due to her mental illness. if a cure can be found, I'm behind it. And I love animals, but people are animals too..........

B. Polhamius, SANTA CRUZ, ca

Bravo! Way to go. Maybe we can use the cures that will generated to help those poor, misguided souls above. ;-)

Mike OMelia, Huntsville, AL