Hard-as-woodpecker-lips MOUSE GOBBLES live scorpion, LAUGHS off stings to face

The mighty mouse, native to the southwestern US, has managed to take the toxin, which is lethal to other animals, and turn it into an analgesic that numbs pain.

Michigan State University assistant professor of neuroscience and zoology Ashlee Rowe had already figured out that the mice weren't bothered by bark scorpion toxin, but didn't know why.

Source: Here

read more "Hard-as-woodpecker-lips MOUSE GOBBLES live scorpion, LAUGHS off stings to face"

News in Brief: Mice lose cat fear for good after infection

Mice may permanently shed a fear of felines when infected with a parasite. The effects linger long after the parasites disappear, a study shows.

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect most mammals, including humans (SN: 1/26/13, p. 24). But the parasite can reproduce only in the feline gut, so cats need to eat animals infected with T. gondii to keep the parasite generations going.

Source: Here

read more "News in Brief: Mice lose cat fear for good after infection "

Mutant Mice Live Longer

Systemically blocking the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein with an immunosuppressant drug has been shown to increase longevity in mice. Taking a new approach, researchers show in Cell Reports today (August 29) that cutting down the levels of mTOR through a genetic alteration also extends mouse lifespan, and delays the appearance of biomarkers of aging. “It’s clear that in many different model organisms, either pharmacologically or genetically, perturbations of this pathway extend lifespan,” said David Sabatini, a member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Mass., who was not involved in the study.

MTOR is a kinase involved in myriad cellular processes, from autophagy to protein synthesis. Genetic studies of TOR in other organisms, such as yeast and flies, have implicated a role for the enzyme in lifespan. In mammals, however, mTOR is required for survival, making a knockout mouse model unfeasible. So the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Toren Finkel and his colleagues decided to use a mouse in which transcription was only partially disrupted, reducing the levels of mTOR to about 25 percent of the normal amount.

Source: Here

read more "Mutant Mice Live Longer"

Field Mice

Field mice, as members of the rodent family, have long been viewed as vermin, pegged to be carriers of disease as well as responsible for causing significant damage in homes and other fixed structures.

But as relatively harmless as Fievel Mousekewitz from the 1986 animated classic An American Tail was, field mice actually make for good pets in domiciles, though the feasibility of training them is another matter altogether.

With the deer mouse considered to be the only dangerous type of mice found in fields, the field mouse proves to be the opposite of what its reputation has to say about it. Capable of cleaning itself, they far from being the unkempt slobs people are known to say about them, and as with most rodents, they are easy to keep due to how close they are to human households and communities.

Ideally, field mice should be kept in enclosures that are not made of wood, given the fact that they have a penchant for gnawing. Enclosures with swings or wheels are also advised by most pet care experts, since these distractions would prove handy in keeping field mice busy.

In terms of feeding, field mice are known to warm up to different types of seeds, along with clover flowers, dandelion flowers and greens. Cheese and crackers are also favored by field mice, and as they have grown popular as pets, the mouse food products found in most pet stores are also good dietary for pet field mice.

Generally cool, calm and composed, field mice are actually interesting pets to have, worthy of anyone who is in search for a unique pet’s attention and time.

 Field Mice Video

read more "Field Mice"

Ideal Pets for Children to Have

It’s really not that difficult to see the value in getting a pet for your child.

Getting a pet for your child promises to be the platform for a lot of life lessons to take place, from understanding the virtue of duty, to respecting the implications and weight of responsibility. Having pets at an early age also brings out the nurturing instinct in children, which helps in their development as caring and responsible persons.

Here are some of the most commonly encountered ideal pets for children, dubbed as such for their easy-interaction with kids.

Guinea Pigs – often mistaken with hamsters, guinea pigs are sociable pets which suit well with children. Their lifespans range between four to seven years, and they are not all that difficult or picky when it comes to feeding. Physically larger than hamsters, guinea pigs are considerably less fragile when handled, a plus side when it comes to kids handling them.

Fancy Mice – contrary to their sewer rat cousins, fancy mice are very sociable, with countless fancy mice owners telling and retelling tales of how these pets bond with masters easily. They live up to three years, and just like love birds, fancy mice are more at ease with the company of other fancy mice.

Goldfish – not all children have a thing for cuddly furballs. If your child happens to be one, goldfishes are great pet alternatives. They are very low maintenance, and the act of cleaning goldfish bowls instills the “housework builds character” saying into children. The goldfish lifespan is quite varied, but certain goldfish pets are known to live up to 25 years.

Hamsters – many pet stores recommend hamsters as pets for kids, even unofficially dubbing them as the “perfect pet for children”. Oddly enough though, there are certain hamster downsides which could pose to be a problem as pets for kids. One is that they are nocturnal. Another is the fact that they are small, with fragile body frames. But other than their sleeping habits and delicate handling, they are sociable creatures, easy to feed and easy to look after.

Pick the pet which you think is ideal for your child. Do well to remember that though the act of giving your children pets have upsides, getting the wrong type of pet for your child could lead to problems, thus the importance of getting the most compatible pet.

read more "Ideal Pets for Children to Have"