Model organisms

Model organisms are non-human species that are used in the laboratory to help scientists understand biological processes. The choice of model organism often depends on the question being asked. Many model organisms have been chosen because they allow the reduction of biological phenomena to their simplest forms.

Characteristics of Model Organisms

Model organisms share several characteristics that make them useful for research. These include:

• They are easy to maintain and breed in a laboratory setting.
• They have a short generation time and produce many offspring.
• Their genome is known and is relatively easy to manipulate.
• They have a large amount of genetic similarity to humans.
• They have a well-understood, often simple, biology.

Types of Model Organisms

There are several types of model organisms, including:

• Microorganisms: These include bacteria such as Escherichia coli and yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These organisms are easy to grow in large numbers and have simple life cycles.

• Invertebrates: These include the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These organisms have simple body plans and are easy to manipulate genetically.

• Vertebrates: These include the zebrafish Danio rerio, the frog Xenopus, and the mouse Mus musculus. These organisms have more complex body plans and are more similar to humans.

Use in Research

Model organisms are used in a wide range of research, including genetics, cell biology, developmental biology, and disease research. They have been instrumental in many major scientific discoveries.

See Also

• Genetics
• Cell biology
• Developmental biology
• Disease research

References

Model organisms Resources
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