John Hamilton

And speaking of scientists, you know that scientist Dave Minoli? Yeah. The one who was talking about how prairie vole couples like to huddle? He was a total believer in the love hormone idea until he wasn't, at least not so much.

And speaking of scientists, you know that scientist Dave Minoli? Yeah. The one who was talking about how prairie vole couples like to huddle? He was a total believer in the love hormone idea until he wasn't, at least not so much.

What happened was Dave was part of this team at UCSF and Stanford that did an experiment with prairie voles. What they did is they removed fertilized eggs from female voles. Then they used a technique called CRISPR to edit the genes in a way that got rid of the oxytocin receptors. Then they put the embryos back in female voles and waited for the pups to arrive.

What happened was Dave was part of this team at UCSF and Stanford that did an experiment with prairie voles. What they did is they removed fertilized eggs from female voles. Then they used a technique called CRISPR to edit the genes in a way that got rid of the oxytocin receptors. Then they put the embryos back in female voles and waited for the pups to arrive.

What happened was Dave was part of this team at UCSF and Stanford that did an experiment with prairie voles. What they did is they removed fertilized eggs from female voles. Then they used a technique called CRISPR to edit the genes in a way that got rid of the oxytocin receptors. Then they put the embryos back in female voles and waited for the pups to arrive.

The idea here was that they were going to create baby voles whose cells wouldn't respond to the love hormone. You know, they would neutralize the effects of oxytocin. Got it. Dave figured that the result would affect pair bonding, not surprisingly. And at least that's what he thought until he got a visit from his postdoc who was doing the actual studying of these animals.

The idea here was that they were going to create baby voles whose cells wouldn't respond to the love hormone. You know, they would neutralize the effects of oxytocin. Got it. Dave figured that the result would affect pair bonding, not surprisingly. And at least that's what he thought until he got a visit from his postdoc who was doing the actual studying of these animals.

The idea here was that they were going to create baby voles whose cells wouldn't respond to the love hormone. You know, they would neutralize the effects of oxytocin. Got it. Dave figured that the result would affect pair bonding, not surprisingly. And at least that's what he thought until he got a visit from his postdoc who was doing the actual studying of these animals.

Well, to be precise here, we're talking about love without the love hormone receptor.

Well, to be precise here, we're talking about love without the love hormone receptor.

Well, to be precise here, we're talking about love without the love hormone receptor.

So you know the molecule that makes cells respond to oxytocin. One possibility here is that signals from oxytocin itself were still somehow, you know, getting through. Another possibility is that animals born without any oxytocin receptors are able to rely on other systems, you know, in their biology to make sure that they will find true love when they grow up.

So you know the molecule that makes cells respond to oxytocin. One possibility here is that signals from oxytocin itself were still somehow, you know, getting through. Another possibility is that animals born without any oxytocin receptors are able to rely on other systems, you know, in their biology to make sure that they will find true love when they grow up.

So you know the molecule that makes cells respond to oxytocin. One possibility here is that signals from oxytocin itself were still somehow, you know, getting through. Another possibility is that animals born without any oxytocin receptors are able to rely on other systems, you know, in their biology to make sure that they will find true love when they grow up.

And Dev thinks it may have to do with the fact that prairie voles really can't survive without pair bonding. So they've evolved these redundant systems to produce that behavior.

And Dev thinks it may have to do with the fact that prairie voles really can't survive without pair bonding. So they've evolved these redundant systems to produce that behavior.

And Dev thinks it may have to do with the fact that prairie voles really can't survive without pair bonding. So they've evolved these redundant systems to produce that behavior.

They know a little bit. Sue Carter actually has done a lot of the research on another molecule called vasopressin. She thinks it also affects social behavior, though not as much as oxytocin. And she says there may be other love hormones that just haven't been discovered yet.

They know a little bit. Sue Carter actually has done a lot of the research on another molecule called vasopressin. She thinks it also affects social behavior, though not as much as oxytocin. And she says there may be other love hormones that just haven't been discovered yet.

They know a little bit. Sue Carter actually has done a lot of the research on another molecule called vasopressin. She thinks it also affects social behavior, though not as much as oxytocin. And she says there may be other love hormones that just haven't been discovered yet.