Scientists Switch Social Behaviors On and Off in Mice, Shedding Light on Human Social Disorders

Matt M. -- Caltech researchers figured out that pulses of light cause aggression in mice to turn on and off while west coast scientists have been turning social behaviors on and off in mice. Why? Because this could have a huge implication for social disorders in people. Using optogenetics a team of Stanford researchers a untested hypothesis about social dysfunction. This hypothesis holds that social behaviors are linked to propensity of excitatory nerve cells. The researchers found that when ever they amped up the excitability in their optogenetically modified mice the test subjects became almost instantly antisocial, when the researchers restored balance by turning up the inhibitory nerve cell firing, the mice regained significant amounts of social function almost instantly.

            I'm really amazed that they could find out all this from just tests with mice. But However, I'm even more amazed that they found this by just pulses of light. I really hope this research will help people out with social disorders. I hope the hypothesis that Stanford has turns out to be right and they will eventually be able to transfer this research to help a human's brain and not just do it on a mouse.   Being able to use this as treatment for schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders could end up helping a lot of people.

Link:  Scientists Switch Social Behaviors On and Off in Mice, Shedding Light on Human Social Disorders

Mariachi Band Serenades Music-Loving Beluga Whale

Kristin H. -- Juno is a beluga whale who was in his tank in the Mystic Aquarium when a wedding began. He chose to go up to the window where he could see the mariachi band playing music. Beluga whales are known for being “canaries of the sea” because of their musical vocalization. They think that Juno heard this music and was interested. As the bad was playing Juno was aware of the players’ movements and danced along with them moving his head side to side. Juno knew these moves because he was trained, but there was no trainer coaching Juno during the song. The beluga whale is classified as near threatened because, we harm their environment as well as hunt them.

This article was really appealing to me because it was different. This article could be helpful if you’re trying to understand how humans and animals interact. But for the most part it is more entertaining. I liked how the person who wrote it had facts about the beluga species, and told you how we are affecting them. This made me want to help stop people from killing and harming the beluga whales. I think the author did a good job on making the whales seem really friendly, harmless, and innocent. This makes the audience feel bad for the whales and, persuades them to make a difference.

Link :  Mariachi Band Serenades Music-Loving Beluga Whale (includes video)

Well, Hello!

So, this looks/feels/smells like a fun new toy!

Welcome to the NYOS Biology News Blog, which will contain a huge variety of reports, summaries, analysis, and critique of the biological science happenings of planet Earth -- all brought to you by the Biology students at NYOS Charter School!

Each of Mr. Huff's biology classes has a dedicated page of this blog, which you can access by choosing the class that interests you from the left-side menu.  Here, on the main page, you can find the Top Article Reviews of the Week, specially selected for display from those submitted to Mr. Huff.

So take a look around, follow a few links (to the right), write a supportive comment or two, and don't forget to feed the fish!