Gene Mutation Leads to Being “Clueless”

With such a title there is lots of scope for jokes about bad brains, bad genetics, and stupidity. Most of which are probably unjustified. And one of the things many of us involved at different levels in neuroscience are quick to point out is that the brain is plastic, it grows and learns — throughout life.

Nevertheless, it is important to find out about the underlying mechanisms and the limits to this plasticity.

Researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Centre have discovered a genetic mutation that impacts memory and learning. Because learning is a complex process it is often nigh on impossible to identify single genes that contribute to this.

For this study the researchers conducted a large-scale mutagenesis screen — that is screened mice with multiple mutations in their genes to try to track down various neurological and behavioural traits. They then managed to identify a mutant mouse with spatial learning defects. They named the mouse Clueless — who said scientists don’t have a sense of humour.

With mice with similar mutations, they noticed that they learned badly in fear-conditioning tests, with reduced freezing, a natural response, and also defects in short-term and long-term memory. They could then map this to a single mutation in the Kcnc3 gene which encodes potassium channels in neurons (I…