What is Model organism?
[[Image:E coli at 10000x, original.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Escherichia coli]]'' is a model [[gram-negative bacteria|gram-negative]] [[prokaryote|prokaryotic]] organism]] [[Image:Drosophila melanogaster - side (aka).jpg|thumb|''[[Drosophila melanogaster]]'', one of the most famous subjects for experiments in genetics]] A '''model organism''' is a non-human [[species]] that is studied over many years, building up a lot of knowledge about it in order to understand fundamental [[biology|biological]] [[Phenomenon|phenomena]]. The hope is that discoveries made in the model will give insight into how other organisms work.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Fields S, Johnston M |title=Cell biology. Whither model organism research? |journal=Science |volume=307 |issue=5717 |pages=1885–6 |date=Mar 2005 |pmid=15790833 |doi=10.1126/science.1108872 |s2cid=82519062 |url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/307/5717/1885}}</ref> In particular, model organisms are widely used in [[animal testing]] to explore potential causes and treatments for human [[disease]] when experimenting on humans would be impossible or less [[bioethics|ethical]]. This strategy is made possible by the similarities of all living organisms. They are similar because of their [[common descent]] and the conservation of [[Metabolism|metabolic]] and [[developmental biology|developmental]] pathways and [[gene]]s over the course of [[evolution]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Fox |first=Michael Allen |title=The case for animal experimention: an evolutionary and ethical perspective |year=1986 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley and Los Angeles, California |isbn=0-520-05501-2 }}</ref> == Model organisms in genetics == === ''Drosophila melanogaster'' === ''[[Drosophila melanogaster]]'' was one of the first [[animal]]s used for [[genetics]]. Today it is one of the most widely used and genetically best-known of all [[eukaryote|eukaryotic]] organisms. All organisms use common genetic systems; understanding [[Transcription (genetics)|transcription]