EEEK! A HUMAN!THE 1 PERCENT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MICE AND MEN

The question ''Are you man or mouse?'' is no longer rhetorical.

The mapping of the human genome and the mice genome finds that 99 percent

of the genes of the two species are identical -- only 300 of approximately

30,000 genes are different (fortunately, fur and a tail are among those).

Before your whiskers start quivering with indignation (''I'm not anything

like a rodent''), think about the benefits: Medical research that can't be

done on humans can be accurately conducted on mice.

For example, experimental drugs that may shrink cancerous tumors can't be

ethically used on humans when other, proven therapies are available -- but

they can be tried on mice.

And, the findings answer a question that has longed puzzled inventors.

Throw out that wood and metal contraption that smells of old cheese. Go down

to the toy store and buy a mouse-sized Barcalounger, a tiny TV with a remote

control and a bag of Fritos.

Now that's the perfect mousetrap.