It’s real: In the science neighborhood, rodents are certainly the most typical guinea pig. As much as 95 percent of animal research study in the United States is performed on rodents[source: Grimm] We likewise understand that rodents represent 79 percent of animal screening in research study and research study in the European Union [source: Engber].
Interestingly, we can’t state for sure simply the number of rats or mice are utilized in research studies and experimentation. While the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) keeps an eye on numerous types utilized for screening– birds, canines, felines, bunnies and even the rodent guinea pig– no one in the United States keeps an extensive list of all the mice or rats utilized in research study. (Lab mice and rats aren’t covered under the Animal Welfare Act, either [source: Humane Society].) We do understand that given that 1965, the variety of scholastic citations including rats or mice has actually quadrupled, while the majority of the other topics (pet dogs, felines, guinea pigs, bunnies) have actually been studied at a relatively continuous speed [source: Engber].
Why are laboratories utilizing numerous rats and mice? A few of the factors are useful: They’re little, they’re simple to reproduce, and they’re low-cost. When you’re evaluating on great deals of topics– and it may benefit to study more than one generation at a time– it’s tough to beat a mouse or rat. Beyond that, they’re mammals, so we are all in the exact same household, basically. It likewise does not injure that rats and mice can be reproduced with bros and sis– therefore producing almost similar genes– without ill impacts [source: SciShow].
Let’s not forget something that our mammal rodent pals aren’t: primates. While primates are incredibly carefully connected to us genetically (we’re talking 99 percent comparable here), making use of primates in research study is hugely questionable[source: Gibbons] It’s likewise worth keeping in mind that it’s simple to alter the genes of mice and rats.
And consider this: Science is likewise about constructing on previous work. As we stated previously, usage of mice and rats in the laboratory has actually grown tremendously; this development in fact may be the reason for their appeal instead of a repercussion of it. If a researcher selects to utilize a particular animal in a laboratory environment, it makes a great deal of sense to pick the exact same animal when screening comparable or associated research study.
Originally Published: Sep 22, 2014
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Author’s Note: Why Are Rodents Such Popular Test Subjects?
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