why would scientists use mice for experiments?

Question

please choose one of belows:

1 .experiment wont cost much
2. genetic differences would not affect the outcome of the test
3. mice are the same size

Answer 1

mice have the same cells of humans for more information go to howstuffworks.com

Answer 2

Wally M's answer is very close. We use mice in experiments for two reasons. The first is that they are small mammals that are readily bred and easily cared for in small spaces. The fact that they have mammalian metabolisms that we can compare to human metabolisms is very helpful. The second reason we use mice is because there is a heirarchy in the animals that are used in research that is based on apparent sentience. The less sentient an animal is the more acceptable it is for use in experiments. The lowest on this list are the invertebrates, then come chickens then the rodents like mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits. Next are the higher mammals such as dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, and the like. Finally the highest level of sentience is the primates and the water mammals ie, whales and dolphins. As experimenters we are mandated to use the least sentient animal that will still be representitive of the work we are attempting to extrapolate. So if our research has to do with mammal metabolism we will work with the least sentient mammal that will be useful. Most often that will be mice or rats.

Answer 3

Actually, in order of importance, #2, then #3, then #1 by a far leap. The main reason is that most mice used for experiments are incredibly inbred. So inbred, in fact, as to be identical genetically. This is important for the reproducibility of an experiment. If you perform an action (insertion of a tumor, feeding a chemical to test for toxicity, etc), you want to be able to eliminate genetic factors entirely. If two mice are only kind of closely related, their responses to your action might vary wildly. By making sure the mice are genetically identical, you can assure yourself that any variation you see in response has to do with the response itself, and not to varying physiology due to different genetics.

After that, it is apparent that if two mice are identical genetically, they will be about the same size. So #3 would be an offshoot of #2.

As for cost, it is much more economical to start by doing experiments with the most simple type of eukaryote, yeast. Many times, however, by the time you get to looking at physiological effects, you need a more complex organism, and in that sense, mice are the smallest mammals that would have physiological similarity to humans. Feeding and maintaining mice, though, often make up a good portion of a lab's budget.

Answer 4

Mice are relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain, compared to larger animals. Therefore they are useful for preliminary experiments where many repetitions are often necessary, and significantly large numbers of data points are required. Once preliminary results are obtained, confirming research will be done with animals that are more similar to humans physiologically. Of course, in drug testing much research is done on cell cultures before the project ever gets to the mouse testing stage.

Answer 5

Rats and mice are used in a huge share of laboratory experiments, specially because they're elementary to handle and cheap to maintain because of their small length. They occupy a lot less area in a laboratory than more suitable animals and may want to produce 50 - one hundred toddlers a twelve months. Albino rabbits are regular for eye and epidermis checks because they're elementary to handle and they have an exceedingly restricted skill to 'cry away' elements from their eyes throughout experiments. i for my section imagine its cruel.

Answer 6

#1

Answer 7

1. u can get mice by the dozen (very cheap)
2. they have very close characteristics to humans

Answer 8

How about:

4. it's either the mice or you.

Answer 9

mice have the same cells and very similar behaviors and reactions as humans.

Answer 10

Because when they do things to the rats the animal protection can't do any to the because they are rodents.