ABSTRACT
Advances in molecular techniques particularly over the last decade have allowed significant improvements in our understanding of basic cellular and biochemical processes in health and disease. The cornerstone of these advances has been the development of whole-animal models of human disease. Given the high sequence homology between mice and humans at a genomic level, and the practicalities of housing and breeding small animals, genetically modified mouse (murine) models of human disease have proven invaluable. Furthermore, development of other animal models including rats and rabbits, have contributed to further our knowledge about disease processes. Animal models have not only confirmed primary pathological processes caused by specific gene defects, but have also provided a system whereby basic molecular, cellular, biochemical and cytological processes can be studied.
