Increased intelligence through genetic engineering

Scientists who have genetically engineered mice to be more intelligent, claim the results could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's, post-traumatic stress disorder or drug addiction. The team of researchers, from UT Southwestern Medical Center, have conditionally knocked out a specific gene to prevent an enzyme called cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) from being produced, but only in the brain. This led to the mice becoming more adept at learning and also able to more quickly decipher environmental changes. This enzyme has been implicated in the progression of Alzheimers disease and drug addiction and understanding how it affects the brain and behaviour might help new treatments be developed, according to lead scientist Dr James Bibb, assistant professor of psychiatry.