Why is model organism research important? Why do we care what diseases mice get?
Functional genomics research is conducted using model organisms such as mice. Model organisms offer a cost-effective way to follow the inheritance of genes (that are very similar to human genes) through many generations in a relatively short time. Some model organisms studied in the HGP were the bacterium Escherichia coli, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and laboratory mouse. Additionally, HGP spinoffs have led to genetic analysis of other environmentally and industrially important organisms in the United States and abroad. For more information see HGN 11(1-2) “Public, Private Sectors Join in Mouse Consortium,” HGN 8(1) “Third Branch of Life Confirmed,” and HGN 7(3-4) “Microbial Genomes Sequenced.
Functional genomics research is conducted using model organisms such as mice. Model organisms offer a cost-effective way to follow the inheritance of genes (that are very similar to human genes) through many generations in a relatively short time. Some model organisms studied in the HGP were the bacterium Escherichia coli, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and laboratory mouse. Additionally, HGP spinoffs have led to genetic analysis of other environmentally and industrially important organisms in the United States and abroad.
