In ancient Greece, human anatomy and physiology models were first based
on animals. More than 2,400 years ago, it was realized that studying animals could
teach us a lot about ourselves. Animal models have been used in a wide range of
medical research due to their similarity to humans. It is crucial that the selected animal
model be as comparable to humans as possible. Because of how much their genetics,
anatomy, and physiology match those of humans, animals are frequently used as study
subjects for human diseases. Since they are the most popular mammal species utilized
in tests, rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, and hamsters have all been employed
extensively in research. The use of animal models for various forms of anemia will be
discussed in this chapter. The chapter will first discuss the use of animal models for
inflammatory anemia, then for iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women, and finally
for specific hereditary illnesses.
“Ought we, for instance (to give an illustration of what I mean), to begin by discussing
each separate species-man, lion, ox, and the like-taking each kind in hand
independently of the rest, or ought we rather to deal first with the attributes which they
have in common in virtue of some common element of their nature, and proceed from
this as a basis for the consideration of them separately?”
-Aristotle (384 -322 BC), “On the Parts of Animals”
Keywords: Animal models, Hemochromatosis, Inflammatory anemia, Iron deficiency anemia, Menkes syndrome, Wilson disease.
