Animal Model Essay

INTRODUCTION

An animal model is a living, non-human animal used during the research and investigation of human disease, for the purpose of better understanding the disease process without the added risk of harming an actual human. The animal chosen will usually meet a determined taxonomic equivalency to humans, so as to react to disease or its treatment in a way that resembles human psychology as needed. Many drugs, treatments and cures for human diseases have been developed with the use of animal models. Animal models representing specific taxonomic groups in the research and study of developmental processes are also referred to as model organisms.

HISTORY

Throughout history ethical and religious considerations as well as social prohibitions have prevented experimental studies of human biology and pathology. Even studies of human anatomy were for long periods of time in history a criminal offence and thus not possible. Although impressive anatomical teaching theatres were established in many European universities, a post mortem was often restricted to exclusively for criminals executed for their offences. Hence, most of our present knowledge of animal and human biology has been derived from initial studies of mechanisms in animal studies.

CAN SCIENCE DO WITHOUT ANIMAL MODELS?

A laboratory animal model describes a biological phenomenon that the species has in common with target species. Laboratory animal science may be defined as the study of the scientific, ethical and legal use of animals in biomedical research. For example a multidisciplinary field encompassing comparative biological and pathological specialities for the optimal scientific use of animal models for human research and other species. Basic laboratory animal s...

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...transgenic disease models the most important category. Mice are by far the most important animals for transgenic research purposes, but farm animals and also fish are being considered to be replacements or to be used in parallel to mice.

Mutations induced by the use of mutagens are another approach to the generation of new mutants. These may serve as models of human disorders.

CONCLUSION

The selection of an animal model depends upon a number of factors relating to the hypotheses to be tested, but often more practical aspects are associated with the project such as the number of project staff, environment in which to work in and the experimental facilities all play a significant role. The usefulness of a laboratory animal model should be judged on how well it answers the specific questions rather than how well it mimics the human disease and how to counter it.