HEalth Issue: Knocking out a gene

Knocking out a gene makes female mice 'gay' Washington: Knocking out a gene called fucose mutarotase (FucM) from female mice actually makes them masculine-they refuse to let males mount them, and attempt copulation with other female mice.        The mammalian fucose mutarotase enzyme is known to be involved in incorporating the sugar fucose into protein. Researchers created the FucM mouse mutants in order to investigate the role of this enzyme in vivo. Chankyu Park worked with a team of researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology any intriguingly gained some insight into the neurological basis of sexual preference.         The mutant female mice were healthy, and behaved normally towards young mice. However, when approached by male mice, they would not adopt the sexually receptive "lordosis" position. In addition, they lost interest in investigating male urine, unlike normal females, and would attempt to mount other females. The study has been published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genetics.