Question

Which of the following best describes a model organism?

A) It is well studied, easy to grow, and results are widely applicable.
B) It has been chosen for study by the earliest biologists.
C) It lends itself to many studies that are useful to beginning students.
D) It is often pictured in textbooks and easy for students to imagine.
E) It is small, inexpensive to raise, and lives a long time.

Answer 1

Option (A), A model organism is used in research due to its well-studied nature, ease of growth, and broadly applicable results, which provide insights into human biology.

Step-by-step explanation:

A model organism is a nonhuman species that is extensively studied, chiefly because its biological processes can reveal key insights into other organisms, including humans. Researchers use model organisms to gain a better understanding of complex biological phenomena since they are often well studied, easy to grow, and the results from these studies are considered to be widely applicable to understanding the human body.

For instance, Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode used for linking developmental studies with genetics due to its simplicity, transparency, and the fact that it can be cultured on agar plates feeding on the bacteria Escherichia coli. Similarly, the mouse Mus musculus is an invaluable model organism for studying human diseases like diet-induced obesity.