Why are most drugs for humans tested on mice, despite the distant genetic relationship between the two species?
1. Genetic Similarity: Despite being a different species, mice have about 95–98% similar genes to humans and thus are very effective in replicating human biology.
2. Brief Lifespan & Breeding: Mice breed extremely fast and live comparatively short lives, something that enables scientists to observe effects over generations within a brief time frame.
3. Cost-Effective & Easy to Handle: They are small, inexpensive to maintain, and easy to store in large amounts.
4. Well-Studied Organisms: The genetics and biology of these organisms are well known, thus allowing a thorough background for more research. Moreover, there are many tools and resources designed specifically for genetic manipulation in mice, enabling scientists to carry out experiments with high precision and efficiency.
5. Ethical Issues: Mice testing is ethically more justifiable than direct testing on human beings or higher animals such as primates.
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