The Jackson Laboratory (often abbreviated as JAX ) is an independent, non-profit biomedical research institution which was founded by Clarence Cook Little in 1929. It employs over 3,000 employees in Bar Harbor, Maine ; Sacramento, California ; Farmington, Connecticut ; Shanghai , China ; and Yokohama , Japan . The institution is a National Cancer Institute -designated Cancer Center and has NIH Centers of Excellence in aging and systems genetics. The stated mission of The Jackson Laboratory is "to discover the genetic basis for preventing, treating and curing human diseases, and to enable research and education for the global biomedical community ."
84-639: The laboratory also provides more than 13,000 strains of mouse models to more than 2,400 organizations in 68 countries around the world. Additionally, JAX is the home of the Mouse Genome Informatics database, and an international hub for scientific courses, conferences, training and education . The Jackson Laboratory has two research campuses, the Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics located in Bar Harbor, Maine, and
168-465: A 2014 study from McGill University in Montreal, Canada which suggests that mice handled by men rather than women showed higher stress levels. Another study in 2016 suggested that gut microbiomes in mice may have an impact upon scientific research. Ethical concerns, as well as the cost, maintenance and relative inefficiency of animal research has encouraged development of alternative methods for
252-558: A China-based contract research organization, but the offer was withdrawn when the deal faced opposition from several large Charles River investors, including Relational Investors , JANA Partners , and Neuberger Berman . The proxy advisory firm RiskMetrics had also recommended that Charles River's shareholders vote against the proposed deal. From 2008 to 2013, Charles River acquires several companies including NewLab Bioquality AG, MIR Preclinical Services, Piedmont Research Center, LLC, Cerebricon, Ltd., Accugenix, and Vital River, allowing
336-750: A Japanese subsidiary of Charles River was acquired by Jackson Laboratory for $ 63M USD. In October 2003, Charles River Laboratories merged with Inveresk, a research company based in the United Kingdom. The company was known then as Charles River Laboratories. Inveresk specialised in clinical research and pre-clinical testing, and their main facilities are in Edinburgh , Scotland. In late 2009, Charles River sold its Clinical Services Division in Edinburgh to Quotient Bioresearch . In 2010, Charles River Laboratories attempted to acquire WuXi PharmaTech ,
420-591: A local review board called the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). All laboratory experiments involving living animals are reviewed and approved by this committee. In addition to proving the potential for benefit to human health, minimization of pain and distress, and timely and humane euthanasia, experimenters must justify their protocols based on the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. "Replacement" refers to efforts to engage alternatives to animal use. This includes
504-406: A lower total neutrophil fraction in the blood , a lower neutrophil enzymatic capacity, lower activity of the complement system , and a different set of pentraxins involved in the inflammatory process ; and lack genes for important components of the immune system, such as IL-8 , IL-37 , TLR10 , ICAM-3 , etc. Laboratory mice reared in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) conditions usually have
588-547: A model for neuronal development by Sydney Brenner in 1963, and has been extensively used in many different contexts since then. C. elegans was the first multicellular organism whose genome was completely sequenced, and as of 2012, the only organism to have its connectome (neuronal "wiring diagram") completed. Arabidopsis thaliana is currently the most popular model plant. Its small stature and short generation time facilitates rapid genetic studies, and many phenotypic and biochemical mutants have been mapped. A. thaliana
672-666: A nearly transparent body during early development, which provides unique visual access to the animal's internal anatomy during this time period. Zebrafish are used to study development, toxicology and toxicopathology, specific gene function and roles of signaling pathways. Other important model organisms and some of their uses include: T4 phage (viral infection), Tetrahymena thermophila (intracellular processes), maize ( transposons ), hydras ( regeneration and morphogenesis ), cats (neurophysiology), chickens (development), dogs (respiratory and cardiovascular systems), Nothobranchius furzeri (aging), non-human primates such as
756-551: A portal from which to download sequences (DNA, RNA, or protein) or to access functional information on specific genes, for example the sub-cellular localization of the gene product or its physiological role. Many animal models serving as test subjects in biomedical research, such as rats and mice, may be selectively sedentary , obese and glucose intolerant . This may confound their use to model human metabolic processes and diseases as these can be affected by dietary energy intake and exercise . Similarly, there are differences between
840-588: A rather immature immune system with a deficit of memory T cells . These mice may have limited diversity of the microbiota , which directly affects the immune system and the development of pathological conditions. Moreover, persistent virus infections (for example, herpesviruses ) are activated in humans, but not in SPF mice, with septic complications and may change the resistance to bacterial coinfections . “Dirty” mice are possibly better suitable for mimicking human pathologies. In addition, inbred mouse strains are used in
924-858: A ten-year contract to partner with the National Cancer Institute and opened a facility in Frederick, Maryland. In April 2019, Charles River announced would cease its San Diego operations, moving the work to one of its sites in Northern California. The company also has sites in Hollister and South San Francisco in California. The work done in San Diego—the breeding of rodents that scientists use to test compounds—was moved to Hollister, California . In October 2021,
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#17327720611511008-468: A unicellular green alga with well-studied genetics, is used to study photosynthesis and motility . C. reinhardtii has many known and mapped mutants and expressed sequence tags, and there are advanced methods for genetic transformation and selection of genes. Dictyostelium discoideum is used in molecular biology and genetics , and is studied as an example of cell communication , differentiation , and programmed cell death . Among invertebrates,
1092-400: A variety of preclinical and clinical laboratory , gene therapy and cell therapy services for the pharmaceutical , medical device and biotechnology industries. It also supplies assorted biomedical products, outsourcing services, and animals for research and development in the pharmaceutical industry (for example, contract research organization services) and offers support in
1176-506: A wide variety of experimental techniques and goals from many different levels of biology—from ecology , behavior and biomechanics , down to the tiny functional scale of individual tissues , organelles and proteins . Inquiries about the DNA of organisms are classed as genetic models (with short generation times, such as the fruitfly and nematode worm), experimental models, and genomic parsimony models, investigating pivotal position in
1260-548: A wider assortment of lineages on the tree of life . The primary reason for the use of model organisms in research is the evolutionary principle that all organisms share some degree of relatedness and genetic similarity due to common ancestry . The study of taxonomic human relatives, then, can provide a great deal of information about mechanism and disease within the human body that can be useful in medicine. Various phylogenetic trees for vertebrates have been constructed using comparative proteomics , genetics, genomics as well as
1344-412: Is Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), which has been intensively investigated for over 60 years. It is a common, gram-negative gut bacterium which can be grown and cultured easily and inexpensively in a laboratory setting. It is the most widely used organism in molecular genetics , and is an important species in the fields of biotechnology and microbiology , where it has served as the host organism for
1428-439: Is difficult to build an animal model that perfectly reproduces the symptoms of depression in patients. Depression, as other mental disorders , consists of endophenotypes that can be reproduced independently and evaluated in animals. An ideal animal model offers an opportunity to understand molecular , genetic and epigenetic factors that may lead to depression. By using animal models, the underlying molecular alterations and
1512-645: Is no substitute for a living organism when studying complex interactions in disease pathology or treatments. Debate about the ethical use of animals in research dates at least as far back as 1822 when the British Parliament under pressure from British and Indian intellectuals enacted the first law for animal protection preventing cruelty to cattle. This was followed by the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 and 1849, which criminalized ill-treating, over-driving, and torturing animals. In 1876, under pressure from
1596-431: Is no useful in vitro model system available. Model organisms are drawn from all three domains of life, as well as viruses . One of the first model systems for molecular biology was the bacterium Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), a common constituent of the human digestive system. The mouse ( Mus musculus ) has been used extensively as a model organism and is associated with many important biological discoveries of
1680-420: Is particularly useful as a toxicology model, and as a neurological model and source of primary cell cultures, owing to the larger size of organs and suborganellar structures relative to the mouse, while eggs and embryos from Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog) are used in developmental biology, cell biology, toxicology, and neuroscience. Likewise, the zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) has
1764-479: Is similar to a human condition. These test conditions are often termed as animal models of disease . The use of animal models allows researchers to investigate disease states in ways which would be inaccessible in a human patient, performing procedures on the non-human animal that imply a level of harm that would not be considered ethical to inflict on a human. The best models of disease are similar in etiology (mechanism of cause) and phenotype (signs and symptoms) to
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#17327720611511848-496: Is studied, again, because it is easy to grow for an animal, has various visible congenital traits and has a polytene (giant) chromosome in its salivary glands that can be examined under a light microscope. The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is studied because it has very defined development patterns involving fixed numbers of cells, and it can be rapidly assayed for abnormalities. Animal models serving in research may have an existing, inbred or induced disease or injury that
1932-477: Is used with the aim of solving medical problems such as Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, many headaches, and other conditions in which there is no useful in vitro model system available. Models are those organisms with a wealth of biological data that make them attractive to study as examples for other species and/or natural phenomena that are more difficult to study directly. Continual research on these organisms focuses on
2016-552: The IRS as a public charity. According to organization literature, revenue comes primarily from the sale of materials and services (~70%) and from government support (~25%). Less than 5% of 2012 revenue came from charitable donations. In 2013, a jury in Maine found that Jackson Laboratory did not violate that state's whistleblower protection law when they fired an employee who claimed to have been terminated after reporting her concerns about
2100-591: The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine located in Farmington, Connecticut. Each campus maintains affiliations with a variety of other academic institutions. In the Bar Harbor location, cooperative Ph.D. training is offered in conjunction with the University of Maine and Tufts University . At the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, cooperative Ph.D. training is offered in conjunction with
2184-515: The National Anti-Vivisection Society , the Cruelty to Animals Act was amended to include regulations governing the use of animals in research. This new act stipulated that 1) experiments must be proven absolutely necessary for instruction, or to save or prolong human life; 2) animals must be properly anesthetized; and 3) animals must be killed as soon as the experiment is over. Today, these three principles are central to
2268-584: The Surgeon General supported a grant from National Cancer Institute to the lab that made mice produced there a de facto industry standard due to federal standardization requirements because it was the only large-scale mouse provider before World War II. The research performed at The Jackson Laboratory is associated with at least 26 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine via research, resources, or educational programming. Some notable findings from
2352-464: The University of Connecticut Health Center . There are more than 60 faculty members maintaining independent labs across these campuses, who perform research in six primary areas: The Jackson Laboratory was founded by Clarence Cook Little , a former University of Maine and University of Michigan president, in 1929 in Bar Harbor, Maine under the name Roscoe B. Jackson Memorial Laboratory with
2436-410: The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is famous as the subject of genetics experiments by Thomas Hunt Morgan and others. They are easily raised in the lab, with rapid generations, high fecundity , few chromosomes , and easily induced observable mutations. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used for understanding the genetic control of development and physiology. It was first proposed as
2520-622: The rhesus macaque and chimpanzee ( hepatitis , HIV , Parkinson's disease , cognition , and vaccines ), and ferrets ( SARS-CoV-2 ) The organisms below have become model organisms because they facilitate the study of certain characters or because of their genetic accessibility. For example, E. coli was one of the first organisms for which genetic techniques such as transformation or genetic manipulation has been developed. The genomes of all model species have been sequenced , including their mitochondrial / chloroplast genomes. Model organism databases exist to provide researchers with
2604-561: The 20th and 21st centuries. Other examples include baker's yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ), the T4 phage virus, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster , the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana , and guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus ). Several of the bacterial viruses ( bacteriophage ) that infect E. coli also have been very useful for the study of gene structure and gene regulation (e.g. phages Lambda and T4 ). Disease models are divided into three categories: homologous animals have
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2688-549: The DBA ("dilute, brown and non-agouti") inbred mouse strain and the systematic generation of other inbred strains. The mouse has since been used extensively as a model organism and is associated with many important biological discoveries of the 20th and 21st centuries. In the late 19th century, Emil von Behring isolated the diphtheria toxin and demonstrated its effects in guinea pigs. He went on to develop an antitoxin against diphtheria in animals and then in humans, which resulted in
2772-622: The United States by 1965. It has been estimated that developing and producing the vaccines required the use of 100,000 rhesus monkeys, with 65 doses of vaccine produced from each monkey. Sabin wrote in 1992, "Without the use of animals and human beings, it would have been impossible to acquire the important knowledge needed to prevent much suffering and premature death not only among humans, but also among animals." Other 20th-century medical advances and treatments that relied on research performed in animals include organ transplant techniques,
2856-430: The United States. Subsequent research in model organisms led to further medical advances, such as Frederick Banting 's research in dogs, which determined that the isolates of pancreatic secretion could be used to treat dogs with diabetes . This led to the 1922 discovery of insulin (with John Macleod ) and its use in treating diabetes, which had previously meant death. John Cade 's research in guinea pigs discovered
2940-441: The achievements of modern medicine. It has contributed most of the basic knowledge in fields such as human physiology and biochemistry , and has played significant roles in fields such as neuroscience and infectious disease . The results have included the near- eradication of polio and the development of organ transplantation , and have benefited both humans and animals. From 1910 to 1927, Thomas Hunt Morgan 's work with
3024-570: The animals and personally delivered them to local researchers. In 1955, the company's headquarters were relocated to their current home in Wilmington, Massachusetts . The organization became an international entity in 1966 by opening a new animal production facility in France. The first commercial, comprehensive genetic monitoring program was implemented by Charles River in 1981. Three years later, they were acquired by Bausch & Lomb. In 1988,
3108-438: The anticonvulsant properties of lithium salts, which revolutionized the treatment of bipolar disorder , replacing the previous treatments of lobotomy or electroconvulsive therapy. Modern general anaesthetics, such as halothane and related compounds, were also developed through studies on model organisms, and are necessary for modern, complex surgical operations. In the 1940s, Jonas Salk used rhesus monkey studies to isolate
3192-457: The basic knowledge in fields such as human physiology and biochemistry , and has played significant roles in fields such as neuroscience and infectious disease . For example, the results have included the near- eradication of polio and the development of organ transplantation , and have benefited both humans and animals. From 1910 to 1927, Thomas Hunt Morgan 's work with the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster identified chromosomes as
3276-420: The causal relationship between genetic or environmental alterations and depression can be examined, which would afford a better insight into pathology of depression. In addition, animal models of depression are indispensable for identifying novel therapies for depression. Model organisms are drawn from all three domains of life, as well as viruses . The most widely studied prokaryotic model organism
3360-492: The company announced it would acquire Celsis International for $ 212 million. In January 2016, the company announced it was set to acquire WIL Research for approximately $ 585 million in cash. In June, the company announced it would acquire Blue Stream Laboratories. In August 2017, the business announced it would acquire Brains On-Line. In January 2018, the company announced it would acquire KWS BioTest for up to £18 million ($ 24.4 million). In February of
3444-451: The company to expand their research models and services portfolio to drug development and discovery markets in China. The acquisitions of Argenta and BioFocus in 2014 allowed Charles River to establish itself as a full-service, early-stage contract research organization with integrated in vitro and in vivo capabilities from target discovery through pre-clinical development. In July 2015,
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3528-563: The company's usage of dogs and non-human primates for pharmaceutical purposes. The company is also a major harvester of horseshoe crab blood. Charles River was founded in 1947 by Henry Foster, a young veterinarian who purchased one thousand rat cages from a Virginia farm and set up a one-person laboratory in Boston overlooking the Charles River . To fulfill the regional need for laboratory animal models, he bred, fed, and cared for
3612-533: The evolutionary tree. Historically, model organisms include a handful of species with extensive genomic research data, such as the NIH model organisms. Often, model organisms are chosen on the basis that they are amenable to experimental manipulation. This usually will include characteristics such as short life-cycle , techniques for genetic manipulation ( inbred strains, stem cell lines, and methods of transformation ) and non-specialist living requirements. Sometimes,
3696-433: The fields of basic research, drug discovery, safety and efficacy, clinical support, and manufacturing. Its customers include leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrochemical, government, and academic organization around the globe. The company has over 150 facilities, operates in 21 countries, and employs over 21,000 people worldwide. Charles River Laboratories is often criticized by animal rights activists who condemn
3780-489: The fire to be contained. Four workers of the Colwell Construction Company who were installing fiberglass wallboard in the room where the fire broke out were injured, one with burns over 15 percent of his body. While none of the foundation strains were lost, 300,000 production mice (about 50% of their stock) died, resulting in a national shortage of laboratory mice and the layoff of 60 employees. This
3864-642: The first laboratory building, Roscoe B. Jackson provided support for the first five years of operation. The sale of mouse animal models began in 1933 with early sales to the United States Public Health Service and The Jackson Laboratory now provides a high proportion of the mice used in biomedical research In particular, the C57BL/6J strain, which is widely used and cited is maintained at The Jackson Laboratory. The demand for mice generated at The Jackson Lab increased in 1937 when
3948-455: The first to perform experiments on living animals. Discoveries in the 18th and 19th centuries included Antoine Lavoisier 's use of a guinea pig in a calorimeter to prove that respiration was a form of combustion, and Louis Pasteur 's demonstration of the germ theory of disease in the 1880s using anthrax in sheep. Research using animal models has been central to most of the achievements of modern medicine. It has contributed most of
4032-737: The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster identified chromosomes as the vector of inheritance for genes, and Eric Kandel wrote that Morgan's discoveries "helped transform biology into an experimental science". Research in model organisms led to further medical advances, such as the production of the diphtheria antitoxin and the 1922 discovery of insulin and its use in treating diabetes, which had previously meant death. Modern general anaesthetics such as halothane were also developed through studies on model organisms, and are necessary for modern, complex surgical operations. Other 20th-century medical advances and treatments that relied on research performed in animals include organ transplant techniques,
4116-550: The genome arrangement facilitates the sequencing of the model organism's genome, for example, by being very compact or having a low proportion of junk DNA (e.g. yeast , arabidopsis , or pufferfish ). When researchers look for an organism to use in their studies, they look for several traits. Among these are size, generation time , accessibility, manipulation, genetics, conservation of mechanisms, and potential economic benefit. As comparative molecular biology has become more common, some researchers have sought model organisms from
4200-430: The geochemical and fossil record. These estimations tell us that humans and chimpanzees last shared a common ancestor about 6 million years ago (mya). As our closest relatives, chimpanzees have a lot of potential to tell us about mechanisms of disease (and what genes may be responsible for human intelligence). However, chimpanzees are rarely used in research and are protected from highly invasive procedures. Rodents are
4284-563: The guidance of animal models. Treatments for animal diseases have also been developed, including for rabies , anthrax , glanders , feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), tuberculosis , Texas cattle fever, classical swine fever (hog cholera), heartworm , and other parasitic infections . Animal experimentation continues to be required for biomedical research, and is used with the aim of solving medical problems such as Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, many headaches, and other conditions in which there
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#17327720611514368-540: The heart-lung machine, antibiotics , and the whooping cough vaccine. In researching human disease , model organisms allow for better understanding the disease process without the added risk of harming an actual human. The species of the model organism is usually chosen so that it reacts to disease or its treatment in a way that resembles human physiology , even though care must be taken when generalizing from one organism to another. However, many drugs, treatments and cures for human diseases are developed in part with
4452-428: The heart-lung machine, antibiotics , and the whooping cough vaccine. Treatments for animal diseases have also been developed, including for rabies , anthrax , glanders , feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), tuberculosis , Texas cattle fever, classical swine fever (hog cholera), heartworm , and other parasitic infections . Animal experimentation continues to be required for biomedical research, and
4536-412: The host cells for propagation. In eukaryotes , several yeasts, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae ("baker's" or "budding" yeast), have been widely used in genetics and cell biology , largely because they are quick and easy to grow. The cell cycle in a simple yeast is very similar to the cell cycle in humans and is regulated by homologous proteins. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster
4620-904: The human equivalent. However complex human diseases can often be better understood in a simplified system in which individual parts of the disease process are isolated and examined. For instance, behavioral analogues of anxiety or pain in laboratory animals can be used to screen and test new drugs for the treatment of these conditions in humans. A 2000 study found that animal models concorded (coincided on true positives and false negatives) with human toxicity in 71% of cases, with 63% for nonrodents alone and 43% for rodents alone. In 1987, Davidson et al. suggested that selection of an animal model for research be based on nine considerations. These include 1) appropriateness as an analog, 2) transferability of information, 3) genetic uniformity of organisms, where applicable, 4) background knowledge of biological properties, 5) cost and availability, 6) generalizability of
4704-621: The immune systems of model organisms and humans that lead to significantly altered responses to stimuli, although the underlying principles of genome function may be the same. The impoverished environments inside standard laboratory cages deny research animals of the mental and physical challenges are necessary for healthy emotional development. Without day-to-day variety, risks and rewards, and complex environments, some have argued that animal models are irrelevant models of human experience. Mice differ from humans in several immune properties: mice are more resistant to some toxins than humans; have
4788-542: The institution include: The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center (JAXCC) first received its National Cancer Institute designation in 1983 in recognition of the foundational cancer research conducted there. The JAXCC is one of seven NCI-designated Cancer Centers with a focus on basic research. The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center has a single program, Genetic Models for Precision Cancer Medicine, composed of three biological themes: cancer cell robustness, genomic and genetic complexity, and progenitor cell biology. The themes emphasize
4872-408: The laboratory. Some examples include: Spontaneous models refer to diseases that are analogous to human conditions that occur naturally in the animal being studied. These models are rare, but informative. Negative models essentially refer to control animals, which are useful for validating an experimental result. Orphan models refer to diseases for which there is no human analog and occur exclusively in
4956-598: The laws and guidelines governing the use of animals and research. In the U.S., the Animal Welfare Act of 1970 (see also Laboratory Animal Welfare Act ) set standards for animal use and care in research. This law is enforced by APHIS's Animal Care program. In academic settings in which NIH funding is used for animal research, institutions are governed by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). At each site, OLAW guidelines and standards are upheld by
5040-412: The majority of work with recombinant DNA . Simple model eukaryotes include baker's yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) and fission yeast ( Schizosaccharomyces pombe ), both of which share many characters with higher cells, including those of humans. For instance, many cell division genes that are critical for the development of cancer have been discovered in yeast. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ,
5124-407: The minimum number of animals that can be used to get a statistically significant experimental result. "Refinement" refers to efforts to make experimental design as painless and efficient as possible in order to minimize the suffering of each animal subject. Charles River Laboratories Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. , is an American pharmaceutical company specializing in
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#17327720611515208-479: The modern methods of immunization and largely ended diphtheria as a threatening disease. The diphtheria antitoxin is famously commemorated in the Iditarod race, which is modeled after the delivery of antitoxin in the 1925 serum run to Nome . The success of animal studies in producing the diphtheria antitoxin has also been attributed as a cause for the decline of the early 20th-century opposition to animal research in
5292-550: The most common animal models. Phylogenetic trees estimate that humans and rodents last shared a common ancestor ~80-100mya. Despite this distant split, humans and rodents have far more similarities than they do differences. This is due to the relative stability of large portions of the genome, making the use of vertebrate animals particularly productive. Genomic data is used to make close comparisons between species and determine relatedness. Humans share about 99% of their genome with chimpanzees (98.7% with bonobos) and over 90% with
5376-497: The most virulent forms of the polio virus, which led to his creation of a polio vaccine . The vaccine, which was made publicly available in 1955, reduced the incidence of polio 15-fold in the United States over the following five years. Albert Sabin improved the vaccine by passing the polio virus through animal hosts, including monkeys; the Sabin vaccine was produced for mass consumption in 1963, and had virtually eradicated polio in
5460-436: The mouse. With so much of the genome conserved across species, it is relatively impressive that the differences between humans and mice can be accounted for in approximately six thousand genes (of ~30,000 total). Scientists have been able to take advantage of these similarities in generating experimental and predictive models of human disease. There are many model organisms. One of the first model systems for molecular biology
5544-417: The organization expanded its portfolio to include the creation of transgenic mice and rats. In the 1990s, Charles River expanded its portfolio further. They purchased Specific Pathogen Antigen Free Avian Services (SPAFAS) and serologic diagnostic services Merck, Sharp, and Dohme in 1992 and started offering in vitro endotoxin testing two years later. Between 1996 and 2000, the company acquired Endosafe, Inc.,
5628-454: The overwhelming majority of studies, while the human population is heterogeneous, pointing to the importance of studies in interstrain hybrid, outbred , and nonlinear mice. Some studies suggests that inadequate published data in animal testing may result in irreproducible research, with missing details about how experiments are done omitted from published papers or differences in testing that may introduce bias. Examples of hidden bias include
5712-476: The purpose of discovering the causes of cancer and other diseases through research on mammals. The campus was built on 13 acres of land donated by George Dorr . Initial funding for the laboratory campus came from Edsel Ford , the son of Henry Ford , and from Roscoe B. Jackson , a one-time head of the Hudson Motor Car Company , for whom the institution is named. As well as providing funds for
5796-505: The results, 7) ease of and adaptability to experimental manipulation, 8) ecological consequences, and 9) ethical implications. Animal models can be classified as homologous, isomorphic or predictive. Animal models can also be more broadly classified into four categories: 1) experimental, 2) spontaneous, 3) negative, 4) orphan. Experimental models are most common. These refer to models of disease that resemble human conditions in phenotype or response to treatment but are induced artificially in
5880-476: The same causes, symptoms and treatment options as would humans who have the same disease, isomorphic animals share the same symptoms and treatments, and predictive models are similar to a particular human disease in only a couple of aspects, but are useful in isolating and making predictions about mechanisms of a set of disease features. The use of animals in research dates back to ancient Greece , with Aristotle (384–322 BCE) and Erasistratus (304–258 BCE) among
5964-463: The same year, Charles River announced it would acquire MPI Research for approximately $ 800 million in cash. The transaction was completed on April 3, 2018. In February 2019, the company announced it would acquire Citoxlab for €448 million in cash (approximately $ 500 million), including the former acquisitions of the French company, AccelLAB, Atlanbio and Solvo Biotechnology . The transaction
6048-469: The species studied. The increase in knowledge of the genomes of non-human primates and other mammals that are genetically close to humans is allowing the production of genetically engineered animal tissues, organs and even animal species which express human diseases, providing a more robust model of human diseases in an animal model. Animal models observed in the sciences of psychology and sociology are often termed animal models of behavior . It
6132-581: The study of disease. Cell culture, or in vitro studies, provide an alternative that preserves the physiology of the living cell, but does not require the sacrifice of an animal for mechanistic studies. Human, inducible pluripotent stem cells can also elucidate new mechanisms for understanding cancer and cell regeneration. Imaging studies (such as MRI or PET scans) enable non-invasive study of human subjects. Recent advances in genetics and genomics can identify disease-associated genes, which can be targeted for therapies. Many biomedical researchers argue that there
6216-533: The systems genetics of cancer and translational cancer genomics, and all are supported by the JAX Cancer Center's technological initiatives in mouse modeling, genome analytics and quantitative cell biology. On May 10, 1989, a flash fire destroyed the Morrell Park mouse production facility. The fire lasted for five hours, requiring over 100 firefighters from 15 companies and a total of 16 trucks for
6300-482: The treatment of animals to the National Institutes of Health Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare. The worker accused the laboratory of "allowing mice to suffer and then die in their cages instead of euthanizing them" and of cutting off the toes of mice to identify them. Jackson Laboratory denied the allegations and stated the worker was fired for her confrontational demeanor. In 2009, Jackson Laboratory
6384-491: The use of computer models, non-living tissues and cells, and replacement of “higher-order” animals (primates and mammals) with “lower” order animals (e.g. cold-blooded animals, invertebrates) wherever possible. "Reduction" refers to efforts to minimize number of animals used during the course of an experiment, as well as prevention of unnecessary replication of previous experiments. To satisfy this requirement, mathematical calculations of statistical power are employed to determine
6468-483: The vector of inheritance for genes. Drosophila became one of the first, and for some time the most widely used, model organisms, and Eric Kandel wrote that Morgan's discoveries "helped transform biology into an experimental science". D. melanogaster remains one of the most widely used eukaryotic model organisms. During the same time period, studies on mouse genetics in the laboratory of William Ernest Castle in collaboration with Abbie Lathrop led to generation of
6552-420: The workings of other organisms. Model organisms are widely used to research human disease when human experimentation would be unfeasible or unethical . This strategy is made possible by the common descent of all living organisms, and the conservation of metabolic and developmental pathways and genetic material over the course of evolution . Research using animal models has been central to most of
6636-741: Was bought back from Bausch & Lomb by Jim Foster, acquired Sierra Biomedical, expanded its portfolio to offer biopharmaceutical services, and went public on the New York Stock Exchange. Charles River launched the Humane Care Imperative in 2002, designed to raise awareness and train employees on animal welfare's importance. The same year, they were named "Company of the Year" by The Boston Globe. The company introduced preconditioning services in 2005 to provide customers with study-ready animals. In 2008, Charles River signed
6720-502: Was completed on April 29. In December of the same year the business announced it would acquire HemaCare for approximately $ 380 million in cash. In August 2020, the company announced it would acquire Cellero for $ 38 million in cash. In January 2021, the company announced it would acquire Distributed Bio, Inc., an antibody discovery business. In February 2021, Charles River announced it would acquire Cognate BioServices, Inc. for $ 875 million. In March 2021, Charles River announced
6804-490: Was fined $ 161,680 by the EPA for improperly handling and storing hazardous materials. 44°21′56″N 68°11′47″W / 44.3655°N 68.1965°W / 44.3655; -68.1965 Model organism A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into
6888-417: Was the bacterium Escherichia coli , a common constituent of the human digestive system. Several of the bacterial viruses ( bacteriophage ) that infect E. coli also have been very useful for the study of gene structure and gene regulation (e.g. phages Lambda and T4 ). However, it is debated whether bacteriophages should be classified as organisms, because they lack metabolism and depend on functions of
6972-569: Was the first plant to have its genome sequenced . Among vertebrates , guinea pigs ( Cavia porcellus ) were used by Robert Koch and other early bacteriologists as a host for bacterial infections, becoming a byword for "laboratory animal", but are less commonly used today. The classic model vertebrate is currently the mouse ( Mus musculus ). Many inbred strains exist, as well as lines selected for particular traits, often of medical interest, e.g. body size, obesity, muscularity, and voluntary wheel-running behavior. The rat ( Rattus norvegicus )
7056-415: Was the second fire to severely affect the laboratory; the 1947 fire that burned most of the island destroyed most of the laboratory, and its mice. Worldwide donations of funds and mice allowed the lab to resume operations in 1948. In October 2021, Jackson Lab bought Japan-based research animal business from Charles River Laboratories International for US$ 63 million. The Jackson Laboratory is recognized by
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