Model Organisms

Model organisms are non-human species that are extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. In longevity research, model organisms are crucial for understanding the mechanisms of aging and developing interventions to extend lifespan and improve healthspan.

Importance in Longevity Research

Model organisms offer several advantages in longevity research:

• Genetic Manipulation: Easy to genetically manipulate, allowing researchers to study the effects of specific genes on aging.
• Short Lifespan: Many have short lifespans, enabling the study of genetic and environmental impacts on aging within a reasonable timeframe.
• Conserved Pathways: They often share many biological pathways with humans, making it possible to translate findings into human aging research.

Common Model Organisms

Organism	Scientific Name	Lifespan	Use in Research
Yeasts	Saccharomyces cerevisiae	Days	Studying cellular aging, replication, and metabolism
Nematodes	Caenorhabditis elegans	2-3 weeks	Genetic and pharmacological studies in aging
Fruit Flies	Drosophila melanogaster	40-50 days	Genetic regulation of aging and age-related diseases
Mice	Mus musculus	1-2 years	Aging and age-associated diseases research, genetic similarity to humans
Zebrafishes	Danio rerio	3-5 years	Vertebrate development and genetics, including aging processes
Rhesus Monkeys	Macaca mulatta	Up to 40 years	Studies relevant for human aging due to close genetic relation
Rats	Rattus norvegicus	2-3 years	Used in a variety of aging studies, including age-related diseases and neurobiology

See Also

• Lifespan Extending Compounds in Model Organism
• Wikipedia - Model organism