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And It All Comes Together

Nov 13, 2007

Japanese researchers performed quantitative trait loci analysis on more than 1,000 mice to look for the mechanism behind prepulse inhibition, which is decreased in schizophrenia. Of the candidate genes, FABP7-deficient mice had a decreased prepulse inhibition, a shorter startle response latency, and had a greater effect on male mice. The researchers report in PLoS Biology that the FABP7 gene links three theories of schizophrenia pathology: the NMDA, neurodevelopmental, and glial theories.

Breaking News
The Scan

Pig Organ Transplants Considered

The Wall Street Journal reports that the US Food and Drug Administration may soon allow clinical trials that involve transplanting pig organs into humans.

'Poo-Bank' Proposal

Harvard Medical School researchers suggest people should bank stool samples when they are young to transplant when they later develop age-related diseases.

Spurred to Develop Again

New Scientist reports that researchers may have uncovered why about 60 percent of in vitro fertilization embryos stop developing.

Science Papers Examine Breast Milk Cell Populations, Cerebral Cortex Cellular Diversity, Micronesia Population History

In Science this week: unique cell populations found within breast milk, 100 transcriptionally distinct cell populations uncovered in the cerebral cortex, and more.