Down syndrome reversed in newborn mice with single injection

ABC ^ | 9/5/2013 | Staff

[Titus-Maximus]

US researchers have found a way to reverse Down syndrome in newborn lab mice by injecting an experimental compound that causes the brain to grow normally.

The study, published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, offers no direct link to a treatment for humans but scientists are hopeful it may offer a path towards future breakthroughs.

There is no cure for Down syndrome, which is caused by the presence of an additional chromosome and results in intellectual disabilities, distinctive facial features and other health problems.

The team at Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, in Baltimore, used lab mice that were genetically engineered to have extra copies of about half the genes found on human chromosome 21, leading to Down syndrome-like conditions such as smaller brains and difficulty learning to navigate a maze.

On the day the mice were born, scientists injected them with a small molecule known as a sonic hedgehog pathway agonist.

[Titus-Maximus]

Injections helped both memory and learning, they are rushing inoculations to the White House, if it works with mice, it should work with rats....

[Gay State Conservative]

To those unfamiliar with the world of medical research,anything that comes out of Harvard,Hopkins,Mayo Clinic and a few others is *absolutely* listened to by the wider medical world.

[billorites]

Didn't I see this in a movie forty years ago?

[Not gonna take it anymore]

“if it works with mice, it should work with rats....”

LOL

[Dr. Sivana]

scientists injected them with a small molecule known as a sonic hedgehog pathway agonist.

Oh, great. Now Sega will want compensation for trademark infringement.

[shove_it]

Hmmmm, White House lab Rats ... I’m undecided on this one.

[Rannug]

LMFAO

[G Larry]

“reversed” ?

Up syndrome?

Ok..shouldn’t joke on this.

It would be wonderful to see this come to fruition!

Pro-Aborts will be sorry to see an end to the abortion of 90% of those diagnosed, pre-natal.

Obamacare will find a way to stall any progress in this area.

[MeganC]

Nice catch! I saw that movie in school and it was very memorable! ‘Flowers for Algernon’

[GeronL]

I dimly remember a cartoon about mice in the White House...

[PLD]

Oh how wonderful..I still say these are little angels sent to us to remind us no matter what always keep a smile..those precious little angels I love so much..I don't have a downs child but my daughter worked for MHMR and she was a teacher for these bright little children..They give out lots of hugs..

[dangerdoc]

I predict that some parents of kids with Down’s syndrome will protest a potential cure.

[taxcontrol]

LOL - I nominate you for the post of the day!!!

[Myrddin]

Likely. Some people find perverse pleasure in having family member with some defect. It becomes a social identity for them.

[mountn man]

my exact thought.

[dirtymac]

Please do not insult rats in that manner. They are lawyers, period.

Old joke! Many research labs have discontinued using rats for experiments and have begun using lawyers instead. When asked why the researchers replied that:
1. There are more lawyers than rats;
2. employees do not get nearly as attached to lawyers as they sometimes do with rats, and
3. there are just somethings that rats just wont do.

[mountn man]

[wizr]

See to me that the name of the movie was the name of the “slow” character, who became brilliant.

[CrazyIvan]

“Likely. Some people find perverse pleasure in having family member with some defect. It becomes a social identity for them.”

Absolutely. My stepson is a dwarf and he and my wife dropped out of several support groups because of the victim mentality. She raised him to overcome, not look for special treatment.

[wizr]

Seems to me that the name of the movie was the name of the “slow” character, who became brilliant.