Mouse Monopoly

Since the first mouse model of autism debuted in 2007, I've heard lots of debate over how, and even whether, the critters recapitulate the disorder.Does their preference for objects over other mice count as a social deficit? Do their abnormal high-pitched squeaks reflect communication problems? How much of a problem is it that the same genetic glitch produces different behaviors in different strains of mice?But there are more fundamental problems with laboratory rodents that scientists rarely talk about, argues a fascinating series of articles published last week in Slate magazine. Mouse models of autism have had a fantastic run, unraveling key biological pathways involved in the disorder. But I think it would be productive for researchers to begin thinking about breaking up the mouse monopoly.Read more at...SFARI, November 2011.