Quiz: What Can Research Organisms Reveal About Health?

Image Credit: Courtesy of MDI Biological Laboratory.

#1. Which of the following is true?

A. Bacteria, fruit flies, zebrafish, and mice are the only research organisms. B. All studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that include research organisms must follow laws and rules that protect the organisms’ welfare. C. Findings from studies of research organisms always apply to humans. D. Research organisms must have more than one cell.

The correct answer is B. NIH ensures the protected welfare of all research organisms. A wide range of creatures, including single-celled ones like bacteria and yeast, are used as research organisms to shed light on biological processes.

Hydra magnipapillata, with a wormlike body and multiple tails.

Image Credit: Hiroshi Shimizu.

#2. Which of these is NOT a reason that research organisms are useful for studying human diseases?

A. They share many genes with humans. B. They’re less expensive and easier to study than people. C. They have very long lifespans. D. Scientists can change research organisms’ genes to better understand their effects.

The correct answer is C. Research organisms typically have short lifespans compared to people. In humans, a disease’s natural course can take dozens of years, whereas a research organism can quickly develop a version of that disease or some of its symptoms. This rapid disease progression helps scientists learn new details in much less time.

A transparent structure with a round body and tail and colorful, speckled dots throughout the structure.

Image Credit: Philipp Keller, Bill Lemon, Yinan Wan and Kristin Branson, Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Va.

#3. Which research organism is often used to study early development because of its see-through eggs and embryos?

A. Fruit fly B. Zebrafish C. Mouse D. Roundworm

The correct answer is B. Zebrafish studies have shed light on the development of the heart and of brain regions that drive behavior, among other processes.

A round yeast cell emerging from a split oblong capsule. Surrounding the cell are several unsplit capsules.

Image Credit: Juergen Berger, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology; and Maria Langegger, Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Germany.

#4. Scientists were able to develop many cancer drugs because of studies in yeast exploring what biological process?

A. Cell cycle B. Neuron firing C. Hormone signaling D. Muscle contraction

The correct answer is A. Many cancer drugs work by hindering the cell cycle, a process where cells copy their contents and multiply. Other yeast studies have allowed researchers to discover how genes turn on or off and understand how changes in gene activity cause disease.

Two fingers holding a small, transparent rectangle with channels inside.

Image Credit: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University.

#5. Some researchers use “tissue chips” or “organs on chips” as an alternative to research organisms. Which definition best describes these chips?

A. Computer chips that run virtual experiments B. Plastic devices that collect data on human research participants C. Tiny machines that use metal gears and tubes to mimic organs D. Small chips that contain living human cells

The correct answer is D.Researchers have made tissue chips to imitate the structure and activity of organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, skin, liver, and more. They hope that these chips will help speed up testing of potential new drugs for a variety of diseases. Some scientists also use computer models in place of, or in addition to, research organisms.

Chromosomes (short purple strands) being pulled apart by microtubules (long green fibers).

Image Credit: Image description and credit.

#6. Before a protein is complete and ready to do its job, what process must its string of amino acids go through?

A. Blue B. Red C. Colorless D. Multicolored

The correct answer is C. Most cells are colorless and see-through. However, iron-rich cells, which include some of our blood cells, are red. Since most cells are see-through, scientists use fluorescent tags and other chemicals to visualize structures inside those cells.

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