2007-02-10 10:31:38 · 8 answers · asked by zoeball 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If it weren't for lab rats we wouldn't have the medical knowledge that we have now.
A school trained a rat to help in it's rewiring project. They attached wires to her harness, put her in the space between the walls, and then tapped on the wall to guide her to the places she needed to be. She unintentionally threaded the wires from one electrical box to the next.
Gambian Pouched Rats are being trained to sniff out abandoned land mines in war-torn countries.
They provide food in the Asian countries.
A hairless pet rat appears to have a higher body temperature then their furred cousins and therefore make comforting "hot-water bottles" when they snuggle up behind your neck and sooth tense muscles and headaches.
As with other animals that are used in pet therapy programs, rats make a welcome distraction for those who are in nursing homes and hospitals.
And rats make awesome pets.
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
2007-02-12 18:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lab rats are used in the scientific community as test subjects with results that benefit mankind. Fancy rats make excellent companions. Wild rats are a food source for larger wild mammals.
So, rats, like every other creature on earth, have their place in this world. Everything is part of the clockwork, no matter how big or small. Everything has WORTH!
2007-02-11 16:17:05 · answer #2 · answered by Amy T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For medical testing, they are a cheap method of testing drugs. While their biochemistry isn't 100% the same as humans, if something will kill a rat, it would probably kill a human. If a chemical gives a rat cancer, its a good bet that it will be carcinogenic in humans too.
Also, in the event of an end-of-civilization event they could provide an important source of food and pelts that could be useful as shoes or sewn together to make clothing. There is also potential for using some of their bones as needles.
They do carry disease and tend to eat stored grain. This provides data for science and engineering: Epidemiologists can use this data to write papers and engineers can use it make the 'better mousetrap" so to speak.
2007-02-10 18:42:17 · answer #3 · answered by Chemist of Carnage 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Food. Many people have subsisted on rats when the food ran out on sailing ships of the past centuries. In Zimbawe today rats are being eatten just for people to stay alive. In China they are considered by many to be good food. I saw a kid holding up a piece of fried rat on TV and he said, " Mickey Mouse is good."
2007-02-10 23:58:56 · answer #4 · answered by cold_fearrrr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u can use them to help with electrical wiring. for example if u need to get some wires from one side of a wall or house through to another and have the holes drilled but need to send wire through, you can attatch the wire to the rat and put it through one hole and wait for him to come out the other end! good stuff huh
2007-02-10 18:36:29 · answer #5 · answered by Nick J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are helpful for many medical reasons. for instance scientists can grow cartilage on the backs of rats for people who are disfigured ex ears, noses, etc.
2007-02-10 18:36:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they eat stuff i guess and animals eat them
2007-02-10 18:35:26 · answer #7 · answered by carson s 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are sweet pets :)
2007-02-10 18:41:49 · answer #8 · answered by juliecat10 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋