What are the Attributes and Limitations of Commonly Used Model Organisms when Applied to the Study of Human Biology - Essay Example

Model organisms By + Escherichia coli Why the organism was chosen Escherichia coli( E. coli) isa gram-negative microorganisms that is an ordinary occupant of the lower gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals (Aguilar 2008). E. coli has the rare ability to use lactose, which is milk sugar found in warm blooded animals. E. coli can survive in the presence of bile salts, which has a burning effect and is used in digestion (Anton 2011). E. coli can also thrive outside the body. Environmental E. coli can spread through defecation as the microorganisms pass out of the body. These two environments are completely opposite of each other. The colon is moderately steady, warm, anaerobic, and supplement rich (Belay 2009). Outside of the colon, conditions can be greatly unforgiving and variable, much colder, vigorous, and give less supplemk2ents. These abilities make the organism suitable to act as a model organism. Attributes and contributions of Escherichia coli to human biology The way that E. coli has the capacity to survive in variable conditions is one advantage that makes it a good model organism. E. Cole has numerous attributes that make it a perfect organism for utilization as a model in the lab. These attributes include; E. coli is a single celled organism. There are no ethical doubts about developing, controlling, and eliminating bacterial cells, unlike multicellular organisms that can act as a model organism like mice. They have tiny cells, which make them easy to be kept in jars without occupying a large space in the lab (Aguilar 2008). E. coli has the capacity replicate and grow quickly, multiplying in about twenty minutes. This is useful in a lab setting since E. coli grows quickly overnight (Anton 2011). E. Cole can survive in varying growth conditions. Culture media containing simple nutrients and supplements can effectively stimulate E. coli to grow or replicate(Belay 2009).. The fourth attribute is that most natural occurring strains of E. coli is safe. When researchers initially began utilizing E. coli for lab tests, they picked a strain that was safe. This implies that studying E. coli poses little threat to researchers. Limitations of Escherichia coli as a model organism There are limitations with utilizing E. coli as a model organism. Most remarkably, they are a prokaryotic life form and people are eukaryotes( Aguilar 2008). This implies that there are numerous differences between living organisms. Eukaryotes are regularly bigger and more perplexing than prokaryotic organic entities. They have a bigger and more mind boggling genome (Anton 2011). There is so much that humans can gain from prokaryotes especially E. coli(Belay 2009). This is because human cells have major differences in terms of the structure and functions of the cell. Ethics that come along Since Escherichia coli is a bacteria, researchers must consider the health and safety of people. Some species of these bacteria can be harmful to the human body( Anton 2011). Good scientists should store the bacteria in a conducive environment for them to thrive(Creager 2007). 2. Drosophila melanogaster Why the organism was chosen Drosophila melanogaster is a fruit fly that has been utilized as a model organism for a long period because of its genetic abilities. Studies of the organism have helped in demonstrating key gimmicks of hereditary qualities, for example, the way that chromosomes carry the innate hereditary data (Belay 2009). They are a multicellular life form, much the same as people, and subsequently may be more helpful in specific studies than yeast. Attributes and contributions of Drosophila melanogaster to human biology There are a few features that make the Drosophila melanogaster a useful model organism for hereditary studies. It has a titan chromosome that is noticeable in some of its cells (Belay 2009). Drosophila has a quick growth rate and a short life span. Their genome is completely sequenced, they are cheap to breed and above all there are mutants accessible for any quality – this permits researchers to see how changes in specific qualities may cause hereditary deformities. Drosophila has assumed an imperative part in understanding vertebrate improvement (Aguilar 2008). They are small, simple and cheap to control. They have less moral concerns. Contributions to human biology Using a fruit fly as a model organism has led to an understanding of the following diseases. Alzheimers Disease (AD) – fruit flies can get AD and it can be measured and recorded in a fly. Parkinsons Disease – natural product flies have risen as an exceptionally profitable model organism to study both poisons prompted and hereditarily connected Parkinsons. Malignancy – flies get disease as well( Anton 2011). Epilepsy – a new research turning out demonstrates that certain hereditary changes can actuate epileptic seizures in flies. Heart disease - heart capacity can be examined in Drosophila. The flys cardiovascular system functions in the same way as that of people.it has been demonstrated to disintegrate with age and is currently a model for human heart-related illnesses. Limitations of drosophila melanogaster as a model organism Some biological processes evolve in the vertebrate lineage only. This makes it difficult to compare the actual results in a fruit fly experiment with the diseases of human beings. The differences found in vertebrates that make it difficult for a fruit fly to be used as a model organism include; the human heart has a four chambered heart( Aguilar 2008). The genes of fruit fly are not from a four chambered heart. Smaller organisms such as yeast are preferred than a fruit fly while studying a cell autonomous function. Fruit flies have a smaller genome and a shorter generation time, which makes it difficult to study for a long period. An ideal study of human disease might be a parallel analysis of genes of the fruit fly. Ethics that come along Scientists should consider the type of research they are conducting to avoid misusing fruit flies (Creager 2007). Drosophila melanogaster should be used for a specified period and if the flies are not being used they should be supplied with adequate air for breathing. 2. White lab Mice Why the organism was chosenk2 Mice are the model of choice not simply because they are similar to the people at the genomic level, but because the pathophysiology of illness in mice is like that of people (Anton 2011). A mouse strain with the desired disease side effects gives an essential, powerful and effective model for concentrating on both the disease itself and potential medications( Brakebusch 2011). Attributes and contributions of white lab mice to human biology Many diseases can be demonstrated through the adjustment of particular qualities integral to an ordinary natural procedure, including "adapted" mice, which may be designed to harbor persistent tumors, particular gene mutation or a human immune system (Aguilar 2008). This ability gives the idea of improving the novel gene treatments to correct imperfect qualities, or even present new qualities (Brakebusch 2011). Mouse models assume a fundamental part in the drug disclosure process. The FDA demands that medication trial outlines depend on clinical measures of viability (Belay 2009). Mice are a savvy and productive instrument to speed the acceptance of new medical treatments. In preclinical trials, mouse models are critical to exhibit the ingestion and digestion system, general security and adequacy of new drugs (Brakebusch 2011). These features of a mouse equips researchers with a distinctively powerful tool for understanding the mechanisms of human disease and testing of novel drug therapies( Anton 2011). Advantages of white lab mice as model organisms to human biology The most important advantage of mice as a model organism is their striking resemblance to people in terms of physiology, anatomy and hereditary qualities. More than 95% of the mouse genome resembles that of humans. This makes any genetic research on a mouse applicable to a human disease( Brakebusch 2011). Basically, mice are efficient tools and cost effective to speed up any research and advancement of medical treatments. Mice are little, have a short era time and a quickened lifespan, which keeps the expenses, space, and time needed to perform research reasonable( Brakebusch 2011). The natural variation among inherited strains provides a vital framework to study complex diseases, including the relationship of multiple genes( Duffy 2007). Since many of the genes responsible for complex ailments, such as, atherosclerosis and hypertension are shared between mice and people, research in mice is important for the distinguishing proof of genetic risk factors in the human population (Belay 2009). Also, our capacity to specifically control the mouse genome gives an amazingly effective device to model particular infections for which the causative quality is known (Duffy 2007). For instance, control of the qualities included in human tumor has considered the production of several mouse models of malignancy, incredibly, improving our capacity to discover powerful medications for different types of neoplasia( Lane 2011). Limitations of white lab mice as model organisms Mice are somehow expensive to keep as model organisms compared to other organisms because they require feeding and monitoring to ensure they stay alive (Gouwens 2009). It is also difficult to find white mice that are important for laboratory experiments(Belay 2009). Some of the mice being used to study human diseases like Alzheimers disease fail to portray all the signs and symptoms which a human patient displays (Duffy 2007). Ethics that come along The association of study of animal behavior (ASAB) has a long-standing concern for the treatment of animals in research and teaching (Creager 2007). The organization believes that it is our responsibility to minimize any possible suffering to mice(Creager 2007). Mice should not be misused to feel pain by piercing them, cutting them without an aim of studying. Bibliography Aguilar, A. (2008). Dragonflies and damselflies: Model organisms for ecological and evolutionary research. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Anton, B. (2011). Phylogenomic analysis of Escherichia coli methyltransferases and characterization of a novel subfamily of the enzymes performing methyl transfer. Background on Mouse as a Model Organism - National Human ... (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.genome.gov/10005834. Belay, A. (2009). Cellular components of naturally varying behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Brakebusch, C. (2011). Mouse as a model organism from animals to cells. Dordrecht: Springer. Creager, A. (2007). Science without laws: Model systems, cases, exemplary narratives. Durham: Duke University Press. Duffy, J. (2007). Evolutionary ecology of social and sexual systems: Crustaceans as model organisms. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a Model Organism or Host Cell ... (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/escherichia-coli-e-coli-as-a-model-organism-or-host-cell.html Fruit Flies in the News - The Classic Model Organism for... (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.cas.org/news/insights/science-connections/fruit-flies  Gouwens, N. (2009). Processing of neural signals in the Drosophila olfactory system.  King, S. (2009). Cilia: Model organisms and intraflagellar transport. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Academic Press. Lane, E. (2011). Animal models of movement disorders. New York: Humana Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Model Organisms:: DNA Learning Center. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.dnalc.org/view/555-Model-Organisms.htmlTop of Form Bottom of Form Review Article AS A MODEL ORGANISM. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://ijerst.com/view.php?iid=89Top of FormBottom of Form What is a model organism? - Encyclopedia of Life. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://eol.org/info/466 Read More