WHY ARE THEY THE CHOSEN ONES?

• Physiological and genetic similarities to humans
• Fully sequenced genome: can conveniently be analyzed and manipulated to induce diseases
• Natural ability to develop sicknesses that humans also battle:
  – cancer
  – atherosclerosis
  – hypertension
  – diabetes
  – osteoporosis

• How they are involved in research

1. Test subjects for the safety of novel medical procedures and drugs prior to clinical studies on humans
2. In vivo production factories for biological reagents such as monoclonal antibodies and vaccines
3. Guineas pigs for the toxicity and other negative effects of new chemical products such as household cleaners and pesticides or biological relevant studies involving venoms and carcinogens
   
4. Models for human diseases and associated treatments

   –  Techniques:Insertion of new genes to a mouse’s germ line via molecular techniques such as homologous recombination, knock-out (replace existing genes with altered versions), and knock-in (alter mouse gene in natural location) procedures combined with in vitro fertilization and ovary transplantation- Product: Transgenic mice- What is a transgenic mouse? Your own custom made genetically modified animal; they are then selectively inbred to produce strains that are prone to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, blindness, anxiety, aggressive behaviour, alcoholism, or drug addiction