Model Organisms and Non-Animal Methods in Biomedical Research (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on non-animal testing, model organisms, ethical frameworks, and foundational neuroscience.

Non-animal testing / NAMs

New Approach Methods; alternatives to animal testing such as organ-on-chip devices, organoids, and in silico models.

Organ-on-a-chip

Microfluidic devices containing human cells that mimic the function of real human organs.

Organoids

Miniature, 3D organ models grown from human stem cells that recapitulate aspects of organ structure and function.

3 Rs of Animal Research

Replace, Reduce, and Refine—principles to minimize the use and suffering of animals in research.

ARRIVE guidelines

Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments; checklists to improve transparency and quality of animal studies.

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; body that approves and oversees animal research protocols.

Krogh’s Principle

For every biological question there exists a model organism or system particularly well suited to study it.

Model organism

A species that is easy to study and provides insight applicable to broader biology.

Unicellular models

Bacteria and yeast used for foundational biological discovery.

Arabidopsis thaliana

A small flowering plant; model organism in plant biology; genome sequenced early and shares many human-relevant genes.

Maize (Zea mays)

A plant model used in genetics; historically important for studying gene function and transposable elements.

Invertebrate models

Non-vertebrate organisms used in research, e.g., molluscs (squid), Planaria, Limulus (horseshoe crab).

Planaria (Planarians)

Flatworms known for remarkable regenerative abilities and abundant neoblast stem cells.

Neoblasts

Pluripotent stem cells in planarians responsible for regeneration and tissue renewal.

Wnt/beta-catenin pathway

Signaling pathway involved in development and regeneration; partial role in planarian axis formation.

Transposable elements (transposons)

DNA sequences that can move within the genome and often cause phenotypic changes.

Arabidopsis genome (2000)

First plant genome sequenced; shares a significant portion of human cancer-related genes; key plant model.

HH model (Hodgkin-Huxley)

Biophysical model describing how ionic currents generate neuronal action potentials.

Squid giant axon

Large-diameter axon used historically to study the basics of nerve signaling.

Na+/K+ channels

Ion channels critical for initiating and propagating action potentials.

Aplysia californica

Sea hare; model organism for learning and memory; studied via the gill-withdrawal reflex.

Serotonin in learning

Neurotransmitter that modulates synaptic plasticity and memory formation in some models (e.g., Aplysia).

Planarian genome (SmedGD)

Planarian genome database (2018) showing human gene orthologs and regenerative genes.

Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL)

Crab blood extract used to detect endotoxins; derived from horseshoe crabs (Limulus).

LPS (lipopolysaccharide)

Endotoxin from Gram-negative bacteria detected by LAL assay.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Technique to amplify DNA through cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension.

Taq polymerase

Heat-stable DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus used in PCR.

Oncogenes

Genes that drive cell proliferation when mutated or overactive.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that restrain cell growth; loss of function can contribute to cancer.

Checkpoint genes

Genes that monitor DNA integrity and coordinate cell cycle progression.

p53

Key tumor suppressor gene involved in DNA damage response and apoptosis.

Planarian whole-body regeneration

Regeneration of the entire organism from fragments, driven by neoblasts.

RNA interference (RNAi)

Technique to silence gene expression to study gene function.

White Coat Waste Project

Advocacy group aiming to stop taxpayer funds for certain animal experiments.

Speciesism

Belief that some species are not equal and deserve less moral consideration.

Peter Singer and Animal Liberation

Philosophical movement arguing against exploitation of animals and for animal rights.

ALF (Animal Liberation Front)

Activist group that advocates freeing captive animals; sometimes engages in extreme actions.

Animal Welfare Spectrum

Framework ranking moral concern for animals (from elimination to care/befriend) based on factors like sentience.