I said mice -did I Stutter?
Mice, too, can stutter while they are squeaking. Millions of people worldwide stutter when they speak, and it turns out scientists have found that multiple species, including rodents, are susceptible to verbal hiccups too. Stuttering has long been linked to a mutation in the gene Gnptab, which maintains basic levels of cellular function. The verbal impediment can be found in two basic characteristics: fewer vocalizations in a given period of time and longer gaps in between each vocalization. Stuttering humans make just 90 vocalizations compared with 125 for non-stutterers. The genetic link, Gnptab “stutters mutation” can also be found in mice, as well. The mice carrying the mutated gene had fewer vocalizations, with longer gaps between “squeaks” compared with their litter-mates—Gnptab mutant mice had about 80 vocalizations compared with 190 in the non-mutant mice. Scientists say that studying mice with the mutant gene may help understanding the neural mechanisms behind stuttering, be it speaking, squeaking or maybe barking.
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/deltabc-1.983313/blog-i-said-mice-did-i-stutter-1.2092037
