Final answer:
After the gene for Huntington's Disease (HD) was identified, several models evolved to further our understanding of the disease. One model that has been widely used is the transgenic model, where specific genes associated with the disease are inserted into animals to study the effects. Positives of these models include insights into the underlying mechanisms of HD and the ability to test potential therapeutic interventions. Negatives include limitations in representing the complexity of HD in humans and ethical considerations of using animals for research purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the gene for Huntington's Disease (HD) was identified, several models evolved to further our understanding of the disease. One model that has been widely used is the transgenic model, where specific genes associated with the disease are inserted into animals to study the effects. For example, researchers have created transgenic mice that carry the mutant form of the HD gene, which helps in studying the progression of the disease and potential treatments.
Positives of these models include:
- They provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of HD and how the gene mutation leads to the development of the disease.
- They allow researchers to test potential therapeutic interventions and study their effectiveness.
Negatives of these models include:
- The models may not fully represent the complexity of HD in humans, limiting their relevance to human patients.
- The ethical considerations of using animals for research purposes.