Surprising Behavior Changes in Genetically Modified Syrian Hamsters

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25250/thescbr.brk736

Keywords:

animal behavior, neuroendocrinology, CRISPR, vasopressin, social behavior

Abstract

Social behavior and communication are key to building relationships in most species. Vasopressin, a neurochemical commonly known for regulating blood pressure and water balance, also plays a critical role in regulating social behavior and communication. Here, we show that deleting vasopressin receptors can lead to behavioral changes that are opposite of what is expected.

Author Biographies

Susan Lee, Georgia State University

PhD student

Jack Taylor, Georgia State University

Postdoctoral research fellow 

Kim Huhman, Georgia State University

Professor

Original article reference

Taylor JH, Walton JC, McCann KE, Norvelle A, Liu Q, Vander Velden JW, Borland JM, Hart M, Jin C, Huhman KL, Cox DN, Albers HE. CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the arginine-vasopressin V1a receptor produces paradoxical changes in social behavior in Syrian hamsters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 May 10;119(19):e2121037119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2121037119. Epub 2022 May 5. PMID: 35512092; PMCID: PMC9171636.

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Published

2023-08-18

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 3 (2023): TheScienceBreaker

Section

Neurobiology

License

Some rights reserved 2023 Susan Lee, Jack Taylor, Kim Huhman

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.