Scientists discover the 'Homer Simpson' gene that makes mice more intelligent if it is switched off

Daily Mail [UK] ^ | 9/22/10 | staff

[Nachum]

Scientists have discovered a gene which makes mice more intelligent when it is not working. Nicknamed the ‘Homer Simpson gene’, after the hapless cartoon character, it operates in a part of the brain which regulates how animals learn and form new memories. The researchers from the Emory University School of Medicine say that deleting the gene in mice made them more skilled at navigating mazes and remembering objects. (Snip) John Hepler, PhD, professor of pharmacology at Emory University School of Medicine, said: "A big question this research raises is why would we, or mice, have a gene that makes us

[Nachum]

Mmmmmm...... donuts

[Waverunner]

Mmmmmm - The Democrat Gene

[saluki_in_ohio]

D’OH!

[TexasFreeper2009]

I wonder how long it will be until liberals are screaming for the government to start paying to have this turned on for free for the poor and illegal immigrants.

[DManA]

“A big question this research raises is why would we, or mice, have a gene that makes us less smart

Put into a virus and injected along with the last flu vaccines.

[Wow, I actually scared myself}

[SandRat]

[Hacklehead]

Genes are not the reason Homer is stupid. He has a crayon crammed up his nose and into his brain. When it’s removed he is very intelligent.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I thought I heard somebody talking about me.

Guess not.

[longtermmemmory]

what is the reproductive advantage to being stupid?

keep making babies despite the lack of family resources to raise them?

induce mating with ugly people? (beer goggle gene?)

[paterfamilias]

[FreedomOfExpression]

Dumb not-a-ping to you.

[allmendream]

Better at memorizing a maze is NOT “more intelligent”, it is “better memory”.

As to why we (and mice) would have a gene that makes it easier to forget, perhaps they should consider that while being locked into the memory of a maze may be advantageous to a lab raised maze walking mouse - it could be absolute MURDER for a wild mouse that has to adapt to changing circumstances and cannot be a slave to its memory.

Imagine if you never forgot anything! I asked out a gal once, and she turned me down.... never do THAT again!

[Berlin_Freeper]

I always thought it was the lack of a gene but it makes sense because you can’t be that stupid from nothing.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

What is the reproductive advantage to being stupid?

FREE HEALTH CARE FREE FOOD STAMPS FREE HOUSING FREE LOADING...............

[dfwgator]

“Shut up, brain, or I’ll stab you with a Q-Tip!”

“How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain - remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?”

“I hope I didn’t brain my damage!”

“I am so smart, I am so smart, S M R T, I mean S M A R T.”

[Oztrich Boy]

“Simpson gene? That’s just foolishness!”

[BenLurkin]

[BenLurkin]