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The Science behind Lab Rats
- Snigdha Suresh
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
The term ‘lab rat’ is often used as a metaphor to describe a person or a thing used for experiments or tests. This metaphor gives us the idea of being used, exploited or controlled in order to carry out an experiment. This term comes from the idea of using rats in laboratory conditions to carry out research. So, why are rats used for studies and research?
The first rats used in a lab were albino rats (most likely Norway rats), in 1828. They were used to conduct research on the quality of proteins within the body. Another laboratory strain, Wistar rat, was bred later and standardized. Albino rats were originally used as they were easy to tell apart, making it easier to start a strain. Hooded rats were also quite common due to their white bellies.
Rodents have been preferred as lab animals for years now. This is because of the genetic, physiology and anatomical similarities between humans and rodents. Rats have the ability to thrive in captivity. They can survive in the most adverse conditions and adapt to them. Their short reproductive cycles and high survival rates in captivity translates to low costs of breeding making them ideal for lab experiments.
Laboratory rats have contributed a great deal to areas such as cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, sickness, transplantation, behavioral changes and so much more. Due to their larger size, they are often preferred for facilitating surgical procedures and other types of testing. They also have complex strains that model the complex nature of human diseases such as diabetes, obesity and other cardiovascular diseases.
Rats are also used in various psychology experiments. They have larger brains than mice making them more suitable for such experiments. They are also less timid and more intelligent. Some of their brain structures resemble primitive elements of human brains and can model human behaviors.
In conclusion, we can say that rats have proven to be ideal for testing. They are easy to breed and manage. They are readily available and also have a short lifespan. Rats possess various genetic and physiological similarities to humans making them useful for research in different fields.
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