Scientist Make A 'Couch Potato' Mouse

By controlling the mouses epigenetics, the molecular mechanisms that facilitate which genes are turned on or off in different cell types, scientists were able to make the first ‘couch potato’ mouse. Epigenetic mechanisms can more easily be influenced comparatively to someones actual genetics,. Therefore these findings suggest that in the future scientists can find ways to make people exercise more and actually enjoy it too!

Journal Reference:

Harry MacKay, C. Anthony Scott, Jack D. Duryea, Maria S. Baker, Eleonora Laritsky, Amanda E. Elson, Theodore Garland, Marta L. Fiorotto, Rui Chen, Yumei Li, Cristian Coarfa, Richard B. Simerly, Robert A. Waterland. DNA methylation in AgRP neurons regulates voluntary exercise behavior in mice. Nature Communications, 2019; 10 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13339-3