Big brained mice created in lab, could provide insight into how the human brain works and develops

Mice with a single missing gene have brains that are 35 percent larger than normal, a new study found. Though they have big brains the mice are as healthy and happy as normal mice. The researchers created these mutant mice to learn more about Snf2l, which is known to play a role in folding up and organizing the cell’s genetic material, and in turning genes on and off. They found that the mutant mice were completely normal, except that they had larger brains, more cells in all areas of the brain, and more actively dividing brain stem cells.