Science Myth: Genetically Altered Intelligent Mice

Mice have been rumored to have been genetically altered in many experiments in the history of science, as they, along with guinea pigs, are the most commonly used animal in science. Mice have been rumored to have been genetically altered for strength and size among other things. Another very prominent myth is that scientists have genetically engineered mice to have high intelligence quotients, a myth that has been in several books and science fiction movies, where animals have high intelligence and can compete with humans. For example, “Flowers for Algernon” has a mouse, named Algernon, that has a genetically altered brain.
"Algernon - The white mouse that is the first successful test subject for the experimental operation Charlie later undergoes. The operation makes Algernon three times as intelligent as a normal mouse and enables him to solve complex puzzles" (Spark Notes). In the sci-fi movie “Planet of the Apes”, it was monkeys instead of mice, but had the same general idea. But the question is, have mice received a genetic boost to their brainpower and their IQs?


The basic theory is centered around adding a gene to the mouse’ DNA. This gene supposedly keeps the brain “young”, and more receptive to learning. It increases the mouse’ ability to associate two past or present events, and learn from them. Some scientists one day hope that a similar gene could be used to increase human intelligence.
“It is the blueprint for a protein that spans the surface of neurons and serves as a docking point, or receptor, for certain chemical signals. This receptor, called NMDA, is like a double lock on a door; it needs two keys or events before it opens. Studies have shown that in young animals the NMDA receptor responds even when the two events happen relatively far apart, so it is easier to make connections between events and to learn. After adolescence, the receptor becomes less responsive, making learning more difficult. But introducing the NR2B gene kept the Doogie mice's brains 'young'"(BBC). (Click the BBC News Link at the bottom of the page for more information)
To answer the question, yes, and no. Mice have been given intelligence boosts in experiments at Princeton university that allow mice to solves mazes and puzzles faster and more accurately (Click Princeton Link).
"Neurobiologist Joe Tsien, with collaborators at MIT and Washington University, found that adding a single gene to mice significantly boosted the animals’ ability to solve maze tasks, learn from objects and sounds in their environment and to retain that knowledge. This strain of mice, named Doogie, also retained into adulthood certain brain features of juvenile mice, which, like young humans, are widely believed to be better than adults at grasping large amounts of new information" (Princeton).

However, as far as my research shows, no mouse has actually attempted a human IQ test. So have mice been altered for intelligence? Yes. Have they been given IQs equivalent to humans? No. This brings up an interesting point however.
“Scientists have long used a factor called general intelligence or 'g' to rate people's brainpower. The measure spans verbal, logical and mathematical tasks - so a person with a big 'g' tends to score highly in all intelligence quotient (IQ) tests, and do well in school and work. Mice have a version of 'g', according to a team led by Louis Matzel of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey1. Animals that come top in one learning test often score better on others, they found: a maze champion might be a sniffing sensation too. (Nootropics)”(Click Nootropics Link)
So based on a "mouse" IQ, then yes mice have indeed been altered for higher IQs.

Links/Sources

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/435816.stm

http://www.nootropics.com/smartmice/gmice.html

http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/99/q3/0902-smart.htm

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/algernon/characters.html

Pisarenko, Natacha. Argentina Mice. 2004. Photograph. AP Images, Buenos Aires, Argentina.