Striedter G. Model Systems in Biology 2022

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How biomedical research using various animal species and in vitro cellular systems has resulted in both major successes and translational failure.
How biomedical research using various animal species and in vitro cellular systems has resulted in both major successes and translational failure.
In Model Systems in Biology, comparative neurobiologist Georg Striedter examines how biomedical researchers have used animal species and in vitro cellular systems to understand and develop treatments for human diseases ranging from cancer and polio to Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Although there have been some major successes, much of this “translational” research on model systems has failed to generalize to humans. Striedter explores the history of such research, focusing on the models used and considering the question of model selection from a variety of perspectives—the philosophical, the historical, and that of practicing biologists.
Preface
Crises in biomedical research
Philosophy of models in biology
A history of animal models
A history of in vitro models
Models and therapies: infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
Neurological disorders: trials and tribulations
Diagnosis and recommendations
Conclusion