Animal Models and Cells
When you think of animals, do you imagine farm animals like cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs, cats, birds, etc.? These are the typical farm animals, although birds and fishes (calling fishesi) are not strictly part of the animal kingdom. Other animals are much more diverse than cattle, pigs, horses, donkeys, sheep, birds, fish, and so on. In fact, animals are the most diverse class of living organisms known to science. They are multicellular, living organisms in the Kingdom Animalia.
With many exceptions, animals eat organic matter, breathe air, can move, reproduce, and take part in emotions and actions. They have an enormous range of responsibilities. Some animal experiments are performed for scientific purposes such as determining the behavior of wild animals under controlled conditions. Others are done simply for entertainment or in research. However, whatever the purpose, animal experiments provide scientists with valuable data that they can use to understand and conserve the animal kingdom.
One of the most common types of animal experiment involves laboratory mice, which are used in many studies of immunity and disease. Mice are genetically identical to the human species, but because they are adapted to survive in a lab setting, they are very similar in their responses to disease and injury. Using this knowledge, researchers can learn how different species cope with wounds and illnesses and learn how different cells within the body function.
Another type of animal experiment involves describing species in relation to other animals in the laboratory. Moles and yeast, for example, are members of a group of multicellular living things called molds. Molds are commonly found both in nature and in the laboratory and are used to help diagnose diseases. Similarly, laboratory insects, such as ants and bees, have been described species in relation to other insects.
Other examples of animal species used in biology research are yeast and fungi, which are both members of the fungi family. Yeasts are anaerobic bacteria that consume sugars and produce alcohol, while fungi are eukaryotic, meaning they are aerobic organisms. Through studying the similarities and differences between fungi and animals, researchers can learn about the genetics of these organisms, their body plans, and how they develop. For instance, many fungi have characteristic alignments that are shared by all members of their genus, allowing them to form extended family trees.
Some animal models used in studies of biology include live insects and cells from dead animals. When comparing living and dead insects and cells, it is important to note that some characteristics of the living organisms may not be present in dead ones, nor vice versa. This can be illustrated through a common example in life sciences: when comparing cells taken from a human body with those from a worm or bacteria, for instance, it is nearly impossible to determine if the former has been inherited from the latter. This is because every single cell found in a human being is unique and belongs only to that person; therefore, the relationship between organisms and humans must be considered from a molecular level, taking into account the genetic material specific to each individual. The information provided here on the relationships among organisms and mammals gives scientists an unprecedented look at the world we live in.
