Because engineering freakishly brainy lab mice just wasn't enough to give us regular folks nightmares, apparently

Mar 11, 2015 14:18 GMT  ·  By

Back in February, scientists with Duke University in the US published a paper detailing how they used human DNA to genetically engineer laboratory mice with abnormally large brains.

As if this piece of news weren't freaky enough on its own, it looks like one other team of researchers, this time with Tufts University in Massachusetts, need be credited with growing oddly brainy frogs.

Unlike the Duke University specialists, these other scientists turned not to genetic engineering, but to bioelectricity to grow their frog embryos with unnaturally big brains, Nature informs.

In a nutshell, the researchers found a way to toy with the electrical signals cells use to communicate with one another and used them to convince the frog embryos to produce extra brain tissue.

The outcome of these experiments just goes to show that the development of the brain is influenced by how well the cells that comprise it communicate with one another.

Better communication makes for better cooperation, which in turn translates into doing a better job of growing new tissues and expanding the overall size of this major organ.

Although it will be years before this could happen, Tufts University Michael Levin and colleagues hope that, one day, their work with frog embryos will benefit people.

Thus, the researchers imagine turning to bioelectricity to treat injuries or birth defects, maybe even simply boost brainpower. “Basically any time you need more brain tissue, this could be useful,” said Michael Levin.