GM mice don't fear cats

Researchers at Tokyo University managed to turn off the receptors in a mouse's brain that react to the scent of its main predator.

They wanted to prove that fear is genetically programmed and not, as is commonly believed, the product of experience.

Instead of scurrying away or playing dead, the GM rodents were able to carry on as usual when coming face-to-face with a cat.

Professor of biophysics and biochemistry at Tokyo University, Ko Kobayakawa, explained the procedure.

He said: "Mice fear cats because they are innately conditioned to express fear when they sense the odour of predators.

"So, by getting rid of the specific receptors for sensing the odour, mice never feel afraid of cats."