Actually, in the scientific community those mice are old news. The paper was published online months ago and at least 2 other labs have already shown (though 1 remains unpublished) similar results by tweaking different aspects of the same metabolic cycle. So I don't really understand the big deal now.
That being said, the lab that made them is in my department (Biochemistry) right down the hall from me and the data is kind of exciting. However, I know from talking to Richard Hanson (and other members of his lab) that there are all kinds of other phenotypes these mice display that were too complex to report. These mice are apparently VERY agressive, among other abnormal behavorial phenotypes, all of which are hard to pin down due to their complex natures. That being said, it is a very artificial system from which to draw important physiological conclusions. But also, it is very cool.
