Besides Scientists, Who What Should We Be Thanking?
Simply put, humans are the ones who have engineered the vast plethora of scientific discoveries we know of today. From vaccines to treatments to societal sciences, scientists have worked countless of hours to make the world a safe place for us. But would those life saving drugs many of us take daily, or the life changing treatments used in hospitals around the globe, be around if it weren’t for model organisms? In one word, no.
Model organisms are non-human species, ranging from fruit flies to dogs, that are studied by scientists to discover biological phenomenons. These phenomenons may be information about other organisms, or insight on how a drug/medication will affect humans. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, fruit flies, zebrafish, mice, worms, and yeast are examples of model organisms that help scientists understand how a man-made product will act in a living species. They are also used to understand how biological processes work. For example, the Parkhurst Lab at Fred Hutch uses flies to study cell division and wound healing. Furthermore, zebrafish are being used to study metastasis and invasive melanomas.
Some examples of influential medicines and treatments that have been developed with the help of model organisms are chemotherapy, insulin, flu vaccines, and antiretrovirals. Chemotherapy was first developed to treat tumors in mice by using modified mustard gas. Furthermore, insulin, commonly used in diabetic patients, was discovered with the help of dogs who helped isolate the importance of insulin. Flu vaccines, the common shot much of the population opt to get, would not have been possible without ferrets, as influenza naturally infects ferrets, making them a suitable model organism to study the disease. Antiretrovirals, used on HIV patients, were studied on monkeys and mice before given to humans. These four treatments and medications are just a few examples of how model organisms have worked to save countless of humans lives.
Just as these model organisms have helped save human lives from harmful infections, humans are making sure they are being treated correctly in the lab. These rules are known as the Animal Welfare Guidelines:
Replacement
A. Using animals that are less 'developed
B. Using other strategies: computer models or cell lines
2. Reduction
A. Using fewest possible but still enough to get good statistics
3. Refinement
A. Minimizing any pain or suffering
B. Encouraging habits that enforce animal welfare
The 3 R’s help make sure model organisms are used properly and in limited quantities.
I was able to interact with these model organisms during the High School Pathways Research Explorers Program, where Dr. Cecilia Moens and Dr. Susan Parkhurst came to tell us about their work with zebrafish and fruit flies. Cecilia Moens uses zebrafish to understand development of vertebrate brains, neuroepithelial morphogenesis, and neuronal migration. Scientific discoveries in this sector will allow her to discover more about human cerebellar malformations. Susan Parkhurst used fruit flies to understand cell reactions when they are wounded, which will then give insight into how human cells repair wounds.
Through this program, it has become even more evident that model organisms are crucial for scientific development. After all, wouldn’t you want to take medication or get treatment that has been tested on another organism? These often overlooked animals are the stepstones to great discoveries; thus, we can conclude that without these organisms, crucial discoveries would not have been made. And human health would not have come this far. Perhaps we can also ponder about the future, and if model organisms will help fix the environment of its diseases. With healthy cooperation between these organisms and humans, I’m hopeful that we will have mutual benefits.
So, what does model organisms have to do with you? Maybe they don’t. But it is likely that you, or someone close to you is benefiting from the sacrifice of these animals. I know that someone very close to me wouldn’t be here without model organisms; through the Fred Hutch Explorers camp, I learned the hidden heroes - the ones behind the scenes. Thanks to you as well though, for taking a few minutes out of your day and acknowledging these incredible organisms!
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