Model Organisms

Fission Yeast

Ascomycete fungus made from beer used to study cell cycles.

Metastatic Cancer

Cancer cells that spread to other tissues.

Ancestral Phenotype

Trait present in a common ancestor.

Homologous Traits

Similar traits derived from a common ancestor.

Convergent Evolution

Independent evolution of similar traits in different species. analogous.

Escherichia coli

Bacterium from the gut used for genetic engineering studies. low pathogenicity.

Facultative Anaerobe

Organism that can grow with or without oxygen. (makes ATP anaerobically)

Arabadopsis thaliana

Model plant with a fast life cycle. genetically manipulable.

Caenorhabditis elegans

Nematode worm model organism. rapid development. translucent at all life stages.

Drosophila melanogaster

Fruit fly model with visible chromosomes.

Danio rerio

Zebrafish model. similar genetic basis with humans. can interfere with gene function on single cell basis.

Mus musculus

Mouse model easily bred and closely related to human physiology.

In Silico Testing

Computer-based simulations for predicting biological responses.

In Vitro Testing

Experiments conducted in controlled environments outside living organisms. (in test tube)