Mice grow ‘mini-antlers’ thanks to deers’ speedy stem cells | Hacker News Reader

Mice grow ‘mini-antlers’ thanks to deers’ speedy stem cells

nature.com

27 pointswallflower48 comments

This article could not possibly be worth $40.

https://www.irec.es/en/publicaciones-destacadas/celulas-madr... has more information and seems to be discussing the same research.

They are focused on understanding the rapid growth with the idea of applying it to tissue regeneration.

Oh sweet, more man-made horrors beyond my comprehension.

This sounds like the cutest possible man-made horror.

I'm putting these little guys in my D&D game.

Searched for an article with pics

Man made horror, not very cute, can confirm

Have a link handy?

https://www.popsci.com/science/antler-mice-stem-cell/

+1 for instant regrets

"Mouse with antlers" would be better described as "mouse with cancerous growth on head with some antler like traits".

You are ... very much correct, those pictures are no fun at all.

I'm glad I drew my own version before googling those: https://i.imgur.com/YMXTnX0.png

The actual results of the experiment are not what the title would lead one to believe.

It's weird how this phrase has come to mean "potentially vaguely unethical"

> "Such a treatment could raise ethical concerns about the cross-species implantation of cells, as well as the significant safety trials that would be required"

Yes the significant ethical concerns of deer antlers... what?

We need to just accelerate (in general; I don't have many thoughts about deer antlers but don't let this stop you) and not get into another incident spending 14 years "safety testing" golden rice: https://twitter.com/kanzure/status/1636170779447513091

Yes, perhaps we should get the Wuhan lab to go full speed ahead on this. What could go wrong?

Intentionally engineering features that make a pathogen more dangerous (whether or not that's the origin story of SARS-CoV-2) is not the same thing as putting antlers on a mouse. Or even putting antlers on a human.

Electricity is wonderful for lighting our homes, powering our thinking machines, and talking to each other over vast distances using radio. That doesn't mean it's OK for some rent-seeking asshole company to make electric torture devices and hand them out to the cops.

Likewise, genetic engineering can be useful, and fun, and productive, and insightful. It can also be murderous. The former don't per se imply the latter.

Not everything needs to be weaponized. And some things need not to be.

> Not everything needs to be weaponized. And some things need not to be.

And some things need not be done at all.

Could you imagine being a being with human level intelligence but trapped in a pig’s body, because science?

Or The Island of Doctor Moreau as a warning and not a playbook of “things I want to do with my career”.

If it would help me to postpone old age by 200 years, I would gladly accept antlers. It's just bone, so I could always just saw them off if they get in the way

We all grow antlers and nobody works 3 months out of the year during rutting season?

Catastrophizing is very in.

Eventually the antler keeps growing until the mouse is more antler than mouse. An antler with a mouse as a tumor.

This is a really expensive and roundabout way to have discovered a better mouse trap.

If this were available as a cosmetic enhancement for humans, how many people you think would go for it?

I shudder at the idea of people who put truck nuts on their F150 having access to that kind of technology...

Honestly, the last thing a redneck would ever do is wear antlers during deer season.

I was reminded of the Hyperion Cantos, where "biosculpting" is a thing and the reformed party animal had turned himself first into a satyr, and then back into standard human.

A surgeon named “Graumann Hackett” did it for Silenus, IIRC.

Now I just need a little sley and a tiny Santa...

...If only someone would provide a full access link to the paper (Sigh & hint-hint). Then perhaps We (the HN Community) could have an adult conversation beyond what the Click-Baity submission title portrays.

Paywalled, but... are there pictures of mice with little antlers? I would really like to see that.

I found pictures. You really do not want to see them, but if you must, here: https://interestingengineering.com/science/mini-antlers-mice...

I extremely regret clicking this link.

For the curious, most of the photos just look like a weird tumor on top of the mouse head. A few display spindly growths that look like cordyceps. It's very gross and kind of disturbing.

Basically, it seems like they got a tumor of deer cells to grow on a mouse, and the deer cells started becoming antler-like. Unlike what the title of the article implies, it's not mice with antlers in the positions they would be on a deer.

Should have asked an AI instead

I did, and it generated an image that seemed closer to what people would think when they read the title.

I asked chatgpt, which has mastered the art of repeating the question back as an answer, sometimes adding prevarications and embelishments.

---

The use of stem cells from one species to produce characteristics of another species in mice raises ethical concerns. The creation of "deer-like" features in mice for scientific purposes is considered unethical by some people because it involves the manipulation of the genetic makeup of animals for the sole purpose of experimentation.

Some may argue that such research is unethical because it does not consider the potential risks to animal welfare and may lead to the development of unnecessary and even harmful procedures for animals. It may also be seen as a form of cruelty to animals, as it involves genetic manipulation that can result in physical abnormalities or other unintended consequences.

On the other hand, proponents of this research may argue that it can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of animal development and evolution. Furthermore, such research may lead to advancements in regenerative medicine and the treatment of diseases.

If future research is to be conducted in this area, it must be done ethically and with proper oversight. It is essential to ensure that animal welfare is taken into account and that the research is conducted in a way that minimizes harm to the animals involved.

Benefits of further research in this area may include a better understanding of animal development and evolution, and the potential development of new medical treatments. However, the drawbacks of such research include the potential for harm to animal welfare and ethical considerations regarding the manipulation of animal genetics.

In conclusion, the ethical implications of using stem cells from one species to create characteristics of another species in mice must be carefully considered before any future research is conducted. If further research is to be conducted, it must be done ethically and with proper oversight, taking into account the potential benefits and drawbacks of the research.

Poor creatures. The link is very NSFW and is not for the faint of heart.

What a mess. I guess without all the necessary context tissue that is required to make them work this is little more than a tumor. I wonder what they thought would happen.

These photos have a very "Last of Us" feel to them, and they look like (as other have noted) the Cordyceps fungus.

Science!

This bothers me, but the use of this technology to regrow teeth might be an interesting use case.

I’m officially evicting my hamster to make room for one of these, cute as a button, antler rodents.

Next step: wolpertingers.

Ah, so that's what the mystery creature in one of my local restaurants is.

I just assumed jackalope.

Paywalled :fear emoji:

https://images.interestingengineering.com/2023/03/13/image/j...

Finally! Now we won’t have to attach them with staples anymore.

https://youtu.be/H70ybZlB19Y

One step closer to Jackalopes!

Mice meniscus growing stem cells is certain to replace medieval surgical procedures.

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