Mutated Mice "Sing Like Birds"

Scientists at the University of Osaka have repeatedly bred strains of genetically modified mice to find the effects of the mutations over generations.  One strain has been found to have the ability to sing like a bird.

They have bred 100 of these mice so far and hope to use them to study the development of language. Using mice to study this is ideal as they are mammals and more closely related to humans than birds, the usual subject for study, so are more likely to produce reliable results.

Male mice have previously (see guardian article) been believed to have the ability to produce complex songs, and sing them over a period of a few minutes when they were exposed to sex pheromones. The songs were very high pitched and are outside human hearing, but had been recorded and analysed that way. But this new discovery means that the songs are audible to humans.

To find out more:

Articles: Scientists Create Mice That Sing Like Birds, Telegraph

Japan Bio-Scientists Produce 'Singing Mouse', AFP

Why Male Mice Feel Urge to Break into song, Guardian