Final answer:
Pig, sheep, and monkey models are essential in biomedical research for understanding human diseases and developing treatments, as they are genetically and physiologically closer to humans than smaller model organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pig, sheep, and monkey model systems of Huntington's Disease (HD) are utilized for various biomedical research purposes, including the study of genetic diseases and testing the effectiveness of potential treatments. These animal model systems help researchers understand disease mechanisms and develop therapeutics for human diseases. The use of these large animal models is essential because they are more similar to humans in terms of genetic, physiological, and anatomical properties compared to smaller animals like mice and rats, which provides more relevant data for human biology research.
For example, transgenic animals, such as sheep, have been used to produce human proteins in their milk. This method is exploited to create medications like blood anticoagulants for human use. Moreover, nonhuman primates such as monkeys provide closer models to humans for researching complex brain disorders like Huntington's Disease. Research on these model organisms can lead to breakthroughs in creating vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, and contribute to the field of translational medicine.