Saturday 4 June 2022 09:25 AM Scientists accidentally create horde of unusually vicious HAMSTERS after ... trends now
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Scientists inadvertently bred a horde of rage-fuelled hamsters after a gene editing experiment to 'reduce aggression' went wrong.
Researchers at Georgia State University produced new rodents without hormone vasopressin in an effort to raise 'social communication' between the rodents.
Yet the chemical change turned the Syrian hamsters wild, prompting fights inside cages.
The ultra-vicious hamsters were pictured pinning, biting and chasing each other.
Hamsters are typically social animals with low levels of aggression and an ease of cooperation
The scientists shared images of the genetically modified hamsters going at it in their cages
Lead researcher Professor Elliott Albers said: 'We anticipated [...] we would reduce both aggression and social communication — but the opposite happened.'
They key hormone Avpr1a was thought to regulate friendship and bonding, with its removal expected to increase harmony between the