Scientists Bred the “Rain Man” Mouse to study Autism

Dr. Thomas Südhof (left) and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have bred a mouse model for autism, nicknamed the "Rain Man" mouse:

Mice containing a mutated human gene implicated in autism exhibit the poor social skills but increased intelligence akin to the title character’s traits in the movie “Rain Man,” researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

The researchers’ study also shows how the mutation affects nerve function and provides an animal model that might allow further study of the debilitating condition.

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