Knockout mouse facts for kids
A knockout mouse is a special kind of mouse that scientists have changed using genetic engineering. In these mice, one or more of their genes have been "turned off" or made inactive. This process is called a gene knockout.
Scientists use knockout mice as important animal models. They help us study the role of genes whose functions are not yet known. By making a specific gene inactive in a mouse, researchers can watch for any differences from normal mice. This helps them guess what that gene's job might be.
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What are Knockout Mice?
Knockout mice are created in a lab. Scientists carefully change the mouse's DNA to make a specific gene stop working. Think of it like turning off a light switch for a particular gene.
These mice are very useful because they are similar to humans in many ways. This makes them a good choice for studying human health and diseases.
Why Mice are Used
Mice are currently the best laboratory animal species for this technique. They are widely used in knockout experiments. This is especially true for genetic questions that relate to how the human body works, which is called physiology.
It's much harder to create knockout rats. This technique has only been possible in rats since 2003.
What Can We Learn?
Knockout mice have helped scientists learn a lot about many health problems. For example, they are used to study and understand different types of cancer, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, anxiety, aging, and Parkinson's disease.
These special mice also provide a way to develop and test new medicines and treatments. Scientists can see how new drugs affect the mice before trying them in humans.
Who Created Them?
The very first knockout mouse was made in 1989. It was created by three scientists: Mario R. Capecchi, Martin Evans, and Oliver Smithies.
Because of their important work, they were given the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2007. Their discovery changed how we study genes and diseases.
Images for kids
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A knockout mouse.
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A laboratory mouse in which a gene affecting hair growth has been knocked out (left), is shown next to a normal lab mouse.
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A knockout mouse (left) that is a model for obesity, compared with a normal mouse.
See also
In Spanish: Ratón knockout para niños
