Unraveling the Urban Attitude: Scientists Probe City Mice
A research study conducted by evolutionary biologists at Drexel University is examining how mice living in urban environments, such as New York City, have evolved differently from their country counterparts. The study aims to understand the effects of urbanization on the evolution of house mice by comparing their behavioral traits, fecal tests, and DNA and microbiome sequencing. The researchers are collecting mice from homes in New York, Philadelphia, and Richmond, and expect to see differences in stress levels, size, and immune systems due to the complex urban environment. The project has received a $1.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation and hopes to publish results in about a year.