Model organisms

Some of the plants, animals, and microorganisms used by researchers as "model" biological systems.

model organisms,fruit fly,biological systems,microorganisms,yeast,bacteria,worm,plants,fly,animals

  • ID: 15628
  • Source: DNALC.DNAi

Related Content

15566. Model organisms (yeast, bacteria, mouse, fruit fly)

Model organisms such as yeast, bacteria, the mouse and the fruit fly are used by researchers to study biological systems. The genomes of these organisms have been mapped and sequenced.

  • ID: 15566
  • Source: DNAi

1719. Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

The fruit fly is easy to maintain, has large numbers of offspring, and grows quickly. The fruit fly shares with humans a number of so-called “master,” or homeotic, genes.

  • ID: 1719
  • Source: G2C

548. Model Center

Model organisms share with humans many key biochemical and physiological functions that have been conserved (maintained) by evolution.

  • ID: 548
  • Source: G2C

1433. What are Model Systems? (1)

Doctor Josh Dubnau explains that model systems are particular species of animals that substitute for humans or other animals. For genetic and historic reasons, the fruit fly is a commonly used model.

  • ID: 1433
  • Source: G2C

1361. Model Organisms (Lesson)

Students work through a series of experiments that investigate the use of model organisms in the search for a better understanding of the genes that influence memory formation.

  • ID: 1361
  • Source: G2C

555. Model Organisms

A human is a complicated organism, and it is considered unethical to do many kinds of experiments on human subjects. For these reasons, biologists often use simpler “model” organisms that are easy to keep and manipulate in the laboratory.

  • ID: 555
  • Source: G2C

1720. Training Flies

Many of the genes important for memory in flies are probably also important for memory in other animals, even humans. Doctor Josh Dubnau explains how the T-maze is used to test memory in flies.

  • ID: 1720
  • Source: G2C

1712. Mouse (Mus musculus)

Mice are small, easy to keep, and complete a generation in only ten weeks. They are also rather closely related to human beings.

  • ID: 1712
  • Source: G2C

1073. Drosophila as a Memory Model

Professor Ron Davis discusses the attributes that make the fruit fly a good model for studying memory in humans.

  • ID: 1073
  • Source: G2C

1063. Drosophila as a Model System

Professor David Van Vactor discusses the properties that make the fruit fly (drosophila) a powerful model system.

  • ID: 1063
  • Source: G2C