Final answer:
A lab mouse can be genetically manipulated to become obese by altering genes that regulate appetite and metabolism and by controlling environmental factors like diet.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, it is possible to genetically manipulate a lab mouse to become obese. Mice have been used extensively as model organisms in studying various human diseases, including obesity. Through genetic engineering, mice can be modified to express or suppress certain genes related to appetite and metabolism, leading to a predisposition to obesity when a high-calorie diet is present. For instance, the ob/ob mouse is a genetically manipulated model where the mouse lacks the gene for leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite and metabolism, resulting in obesity. Additionally, environmental factors such as a high-fat diet combined with low activity levels can also be controlled in a lab setting to study diet-induced obesity in mice.