Scientific Research with Rats and Mice

What were early scientific experiments with brown rats in the 1820s primarily focused on?

• Studying genetics

• Observing social behavior

• Effects of food deprivation

• Testing new medicines

What was special about the Wistar rat developed at the Wistar Institute in 1906?

• It was the first rat used for rat-baiting.

• It was the first animal bred solely for scientific research.

• It was the first rat to be genetically modified.

• It was the first rat discovered in Northern China.

How genetically similar can lab rats be to each other after many generations of inbreeding?

• About 50% identical

• About 75% identical

• More than 99% identical

• Less than 10% identical

Why have mice become more popular than rats for scientific research in recent years?

• Mice are larger and easier to handle.

• Mice are easier to genetically modify.

• Mice have more complex brains.

• Mice are less expensive to breed.