View Full Version : Jet-lagged mice die young
cunningham
7th Nov 2006, 09:15
Thought this may be of interest to the long haul crews amongst us.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20716763-401,00.html?from=public_rss
Chimbu chuckles
7th Nov 2006, 09:37
Meaningless.
Mice don't have an ability to understand what is happening, plan and come up with strategies that mitigate the effects.
Anyone who can take a 'study' that basically tortured dumb animals to death and use it as an argument against humans doing shift work or crossing time zones needs to have their funding removed.:ugh:
LOA169
7th Nov 2006, 10:24
So, Chuckles, we should disregard all the studies conducted on mice that have had enormous relevance and benefit when translated to the human population just because they don't understand what's happening?
Your suggestion that anyone who 'tortures' mice in an argument against time zone travel should have their funding removed also ignores the fact that research on mice has and continues to been performed for decades. There are countless scientific findings gleaned from the 'torture' of mice that have changed human suffering forever.
Unless you have never taken a prescription drug or even worn a band-aid, then you cannot criticse the use of mice for scientific research.
What I found interesting from the article was the fact that none of the mice exhibited any signs of increased stress as a result of the circadian rhythm changes...they just keeled over and died...
Must remember that next time the guy next to nods off in the middle of the night...
Spodman
7th Nov 2006, 11:22
So, Chuckles, we should disregard all the studies conducted on mice that have had enormous relevance and benefit when translated to the human population just because they don't understand what's happening?
Well, yes.
Fairly glad to see mice won't be replacing me here on the night shift any time soom:ugh:
Chimbu chuckles
7th Nov 2006, 11:28
LOA69 you are confusing mice physiology with psycology.
Just because medicines for specific medical ailments can be tested on mice first, and the results extrapolated to humans, doesn't mean they cope with stress (sleep deprivation) the same way.
This research will be refuted by a number of pilots especially those who want to fly until they are 90 years old. As one who has been in longhaul longer than most I've known quite a number of drivers who've kicked the bucket between 60 and 65.