Model organism

A nonhuman species studied extensively to reveal biological processes that may apply to other organisms, including humans. Its value depends on tractable research methods and carefully assessed similarities to the organisms being studied.

Escherichia coli: A bacterium widely used to study genetics, molecular biology, and cell processes. Its rapid growth and genetic tools make it a standard model for basic molecular mechanisms.
Comparative biology: The study of similarities and differences among organisms to explain biological patterns and processes. Comparisons test whether a result from one species extends to another.
Thomas Hunt Morgan: An American geneticist whose fruit-fly experiments established the chromosome theory of inheritance. His laboratory helped make Drosophila a foundational genetic model.
Non-model organism: A species studied without the extensive experimental resources and research infrastructure associated with established model organisms. It may better represent a biological trait that standard models lack.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A yeast used to investigate eukaryotic cell biology, genetics, and metabolism. Its simple eukaryotic cells reveal conserved processes such as the cell cycle.
Homology (biology): Similarity between biological features inherited from a common ancestor. Homologous genes and structures can support hypotheses about conserved functions.
Theodor Boveri: A German biologist whose work helped establish the role of chromosomes in heredity and development. His experiments with sea urchins showed how chromosome composition affects development.
Cell culture: The growth of cells outside an organism under controlled laboratory conditions. Cell culture can isolate cellular mechanisms that whole-organism models complicate.
Caenorhabditis elegans: A transparent nematode used to study development, neural circuits, and aging. Its mapped cell lineage and compact nervous system support whole-animal experiments.
Genetic model: An organism or system used to investigate how genes influence biological traits. Many models are selected because mutations and inheritance can be studied efficiently.

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