Model Organisms Used in Aquatic Toxicology

Much of our knowledge about heredity, development, physiology, cellular and molecular processes in living organisms is derived from the study of model organisms. Despite the enormous biodiversity of the Earth, a common basis of mechanisms for all living things can be deduced by studying a few life forms selected for their suitability for experimental studies. For example, basic metabolisms can be elucidated with several model organisms, including E. coli, yeast, C. elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus, zebrafish, mouse, maize and Arabidopsis. These model organisms have become the metabolisms of choice for comprehensive genome studies (transcriptomics and proteomics) due to their wide range of applications and important properties. Gregor Mendel is known as the first person to experimentally select an organism to solve questions of universal inheritance. Mendel's work has guided the selection of model organisms in subsequent times. Since Mendel's pea experiments, the revolutionary knowledge gained has been largely based on model organism studies. Thanks to model organisms, many of the molecular mechanisms elucidated at the cellular level have revealed the kinship of life on earth at a level invisible to the naked eye. In today's biology, the ‘model organism’ helps us to understand how living organisms work. The main factor in the selection of species for model organisms is the focus of the studies. Model organisms are organisms that are produced under in vitro conditions and are easy to maintain production, have a short generation interval, have experimental advantages and are used in the investigation of biological phenomena. Model organisms, which have high homology but small genome size compared to the human genome, can be used in all kinds of experiments that cannot be studied on humans. These organisms are easy to produce and maintain in the laboratory and offer considerable experimental advantages. They are also inexpensive to produce and their use is not ethically compromised. These organisms are usually selected from widely available and easily cultivated species. A good model organism is one that is genetically defined, capable of rapid reproduction, has sensitive responses and can produce reproducible results in experimental studies using genetically similar individuals.