What's next after talking mice?

German researchers have developed a strain of mice endowed with a gene called FOXP2, which is necessary for human speech. All it's done with the mice is throw their voices off a bit, but Mark Leyner, writing for the NYT, wonders what this will lead to. Talking mice? (Maybe Disney has a hand in this research.) Other talking animals? He suggests that one cow talking about slaughterhouses on Oprah is likely to wreck the beef industry. (As to other animals, I do NOT want to know what my cat thinks of me in words, although she expresses herself fairly well with a superior look of disdain.)

THANKS TO Kris Winkler for this item.