This web page was produced as an assignment for Genetics 564, an undergraduate capstone course at UW-Madison.
What are model organisms?
Model organisms are non-human species used to study biological questions. These organisms are easy to breed and maintain in a laboratory setting [1]. The use of model organisms allows scientists to better understand biological processes in other species including humans. Everything learned by studying model organisms are kept in Model Organism Databases.
How to select a model organism?
Different model organisms are more useful for study certain areas of biology than others. The following Figure will help with choosing the correct model organism.
What are common model organisms?
House mouse (Mus musculus)
Escherichia coli (E. coli) Baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae) Nematodes (C. elegans) |
Aradibopsis thaliana (A. thaliana)
Fruit fly (D. melanogaster) Zebrafish (D. rerio) |
What model organisms can be used to study LXRA?
Mus Musculus
Mice are good model organisms for studying the human disease, multiple sclerosis. There is already an EAE mouse model of MS [2]. This model can be used to study MS and other demyelinating diseases. Mice are attractive models due to their conservation of human genes and physiology.
C. elegans
C. elegans can be good models to study LXRA. The C. elegans have a conserved gene called Daf-12. This gene is part of the highly evolutionarily conserved nuclear hormone receptor superfamily (NHR) [3]. The human LXRA is also a member of this family.
Mice are good model organisms for studying the human disease, multiple sclerosis. There is already an EAE mouse model of MS [2]. This model can be used to study MS and other demyelinating diseases. Mice are attractive models due to their conservation of human genes and physiology.
C. elegans
C. elegans can be good models to study LXRA. The C. elegans have a conserved gene called Daf-12. This gene is part of the highly evolutionarily conserved nuclear hormone receptor superfamily (NHR) [3]. The human LXRA is also a member of this family.
Conclusion
Both mice and C. elegans can be used as model organisms to study LXRA and MS. For my specific aims I will be focusing on mice do to their conversation of the LXRA gene and the fact that there is a disease model of MS for mice.
References
[Header Image] What are model organisms? (2017, March 03). Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-are-model-organisms
[1] What are model organisms? (2017, March 03). Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-are-model-organisms
[2] McCarthy, D. P., Richards, M. H., & Miller, S. D. (2012). Mouse Models of Multiple Sclerosis: Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Theiler’s Virus-Induced Demyelinating Disease. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), 900, 381–401. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-720-4_19
[3] Kuningas, M., Mooijaart, S. P., Van Heemst, D., Zwaan, B. J., Slagboom, P. E. and Westendorp, R. G. J. (2008), Genes encoding longevity: from model organisms to humans. Aging Cell, 7: 270–280. doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2008.00366.x
[1] What are model organisms? (2017, March 03). Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-are-model-organisms
[2] McCarthy, D. P., Richards, M. H., & Miller, S. D. (2012). Mouse Models of Multiple Sclerosis: Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Theiler’s Virus-Induced Demyelinating Disease. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.), 900, 381–401. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-720-4_19
[3] Kuningas, M., Mooijaart, S. P., Van Heemst, D., Zwaan, B. J., Slagboom, P. E. and Westendorp, R. G. J. (2008), Genes encoding longevity: from model organisms to humans. Aging Cell, 7: 270–280. doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2008.00366.x