nihh science update december scientists at the johns hopkins university school of medicine in baltimore led by mikhail pletnikov developed the mouse model used in this study by inserting a gene with a mutation known to be associated in humans with schizophrenia depression and bipolar disorder they used a technique that allows them to turn the gene on and off at desired time points during brain development in earlier research mice with the gene mhdisc mutant human disrupted in schizophrenia showed effects on social behavior and mood which differed depending on the sex of the mice and the age at which the gene was active the study shows brain development is more complex than originally thought and the argument between nature v nature is not an easy question the mutated gene has more control than originally thought nimh science update breaking ground breaking through the strategic plan for mood disorders research pages