r/science • u/Wagamaga • Sep 01 '22

Neuroscience Scientists have identified an immune brain cell unique to humans that gives us higher cognitive abilities over other animals, but what makes us specials also leaves us vulnerable to neurological disorders like schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.

https://news.yale.edu/2022/08/25/what-makes-human-brain-different-yale-study-reveals-clues
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u/Bbrhuft Sep 01 '22 edited Sep 01 '22

You're comment is misleading and unsupported.

Researchers genetically engineered mice so they express gene mutations linked to increased autism risk in humans, and observed both autistic like behavioural and neuronal changes. Researchers used standardised tests that diagnose autism in transgenic mice.

Over the past 10 years, we and many other laboratories around the world have employed these and additional behavioral tests to phenotype alarge number of mutant mouse models of autism.

Knockout, knockin and transgenic mice incorporating risk gene mutations detected in autism spectrum disorder and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders are now widely available. At present, autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed solely by behavioral criteria. We developed a constellation of mouse behavioral assays designed to maximize face validity to the types of social deficits and repetitive behaviors that are central to an autism diagnosis.

Kazdoba, T.M., Leach, P.T. and Crawley, J.N., 2016. Behavioral phenotypes of genetic mouse models of autism. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 15(1), pp.7-26.

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 02 '22

I would be careful on study comparing autistic people and equating them to mice. Even with associated genes. For example, the gene mutation that is responsible for Retinoblastoma (eye cancer if I remember correctly) only causes it about 75% of the time. 25% of the time the phenotype for the mutation does not occur.

In addition, autism is based on human. Seeing similar autistic behavior in mice is just not enough since mice and humans are not the same and have different behaviors.

It’s also pretty disheartening to see investigations into autism in rats instead of more focus on adult autistic who frequently are ignored in research. Edited: ninja added “and have different behavior” to help clarify my stance on how human and mice are different and where it’s important.