Small model organisms as versatile research tools

Article review Tristan LongReceived his PhD from Wilfrid Laurier University.

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What are model organisms?

Model organisms are non-human species that scientists study to gain insight into biological and behavioral processes. Evolutionarily conserved between different organisms.¹ Model Organisms They often enable discoveries in genetics and physiology, allowing researchers to investigate molecular, cellular, social and environmental systems in a laboratory environment.²

Genetic similarity and common ancestry are key principles in the study of model organisms. All living things are relatedIt encompasses a wide range of organisms, from single-celled bacteria to complex multicellular plants and animals, allowing scientists to identify commonalities in biological discoveries and extrapolate findings from one species to another.² For example, early insect, plant, bacterial, and viral models Inheritance It produced what is now common knowledge that DNA is the genetic material passed on from generation to generation and provides the code and blueprint for life on Earth.² Model organisms are fundamental and Universal Biological ProcessesIt serves as a research and teaching tool that shapes scientific advances.²

What makes a good model organism?

Good model organisms are often standard Beyond their evolutionary relevance to humans, key factors include ease of study and universal applicability across laboratories, available and stable genetic information that allows scientists to consistently culture or breed the organism without genetic drift, and available genomic and transcriptomic resources, including editing tools to change, delete, or add targeted genes.¹ Small size, short reproductive periods and life cycles, and economic feasibility also determine which organisms are suitable for study. Model System.¹

Several Commonly studied model organisms They are listed below:³

• Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila)
• Nematode (Roundworm)
• Danio Lelio (Zebrafish)
• House mouse (mouse)
• Xenopus (Xenopus)
• Arabidopsis thaliana (Tarecres)
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Budding yeast)
• E. coli

These organisms have also been successful as models because of their versatility. “The best model species are not just two-dimensional,” he says. Tristan LongAn evolutionary geneticist at Wilfrid Laurier University, he studies a range of biological processes, including sexual diversity in the fruit fly model, genetic variation, social and environmental influences on development, and susceptibility to bacterial infection. [fruit fly] “In biology, you never run out of ideas, you never run out of projects,” Long says.

Animal genetics and selected small model organisms

Genetically Modifiable Small Animal Models like Drosophila melanogaster, Nematodeand D. Lelio Historically, they have provided important insights into genes and cellular processes – in some cases, more quickly and cost-effectively than rodent or larger mammalian models.^Four

Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogasterBetter known as the fruit fly, this organism is Thomas Hunt Morgan In the early 1900s, he conducted some of the earliest research into animal genetics at Columbia University using the fruit fly model.^Five

“Most of the model organisms we have are relics of the past,” Long explains. “Jacques Monod famously said, E. coli “That’s true for elephants, but I think the same is true for fruit flies. Fruit flies are not a perfect analogue for everything, but they’re practical and flexible enough to be used for anything. And it gives us insights that are really useful.”

Since its creation as a practical genetic model, Drosophila melanogaster has made a name for itself around the world. Physiological and behavioral studies These species are widely exploited in various disciplines due to their small size, known life history traits, and the wealth of available genetic tools.^Five Scientists estimate that approximately 75% of genes that cause human diseases It has a functional homolog in Drosophila, which has contributed to its application in human health research.^Four “It’s really instructive to have these similarities and parallels,” Long says, “and while the actual fine details will always vary depending on the life cycle and genetic makeup of different species, there’s still a great deal of universality.”

Nematode

Nematode A transparent, microscopic nematode worm that is used as a genetic model in neurobiology, aging, and development studies, it was originally recommended by biologists as a model organism. Sydney Brenner At the Medical Research Council’s Institute of Molecular Biology in the 1970s⁶ They are small, have a fast life cycle, are easy to genetically manipulate, and their cellular and genetic processes have been thoroughly mapped. Nematode Contribute to general use in research.^Four nevertheless Nematode It has little in common with the human physiological system. Genetic similarity (approximately 65%) Invertebrates smaller than Drosophila continue to provide valuable insights into conserved molecular processes, and researchers are utilizing these small invertebrates to perform rapid, economically efficient, whole-organism high-throughput drug screens.^Four

Danio Lelio

D. Lelio, Commonly known as the zebrafish, this organism has been a valuable model for vertebrate genetic research. Based on basic research in the Drosophila model, developmental biologists Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology shifted their research focus to zebrafish in the 1990s to investigate embryonic development.⁷ These fish are Large transparent embryo Rapid external maturation facilitates vertebrate studies and reduces laboratory infrastructure costs compared to mouse and rat models.^Four Zebrafish Human homologue It keeps tissues such as the liver and kidneys, as well as the innate and adaptive immune systems intact, making it ideal for therapeutic research.^Four

Milestones in Model Biology Research and Nobel Prize Winners

Selection subjects Research Milestones Often associated with established model organisms.¹ for example, Drosophila melanogaster, Nematode, D. Lelioand Arabidopsis thaliana Models have enabled major advances in developmental genetics. E. coli The model has helped scientists elucidate the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. S. cerevisiae The model has enabled elucidation of the earliest stages of the eukaryotic cell cycle, and mouse models have become indispensable in the study of human physiology and disease.¹

Research into model organisms has also been the basis for many Nobel Prize-worthy scientific advances.

Table: Examples of Nobel Prize-winning breakthroughs supported by model organism research⁸

This diversity and success is International Collaborative Research Community Today we use model organisms.³ For example, Drosophila biologists frequently exchange knowledge, resources, and genetically characterized Drosophila lineages. “It’s very open and there’s a lot of sharing,” Long says. “Because there’s an amazing community in the Drosophila world, we have access to all kinds of really cool tools.” What began as a useful genetic research tool has grown into a beloved, insight-providing model that connects scientists from different fields. In the world.^Five