Laboratoriolajit

Laboratoriolajit, meaning laboratory species in Finnish, refers to species that are maintained and bred under controlled conditions for scientific research. They are selected for characteristics such as short generation time, ease of culture, well-established genetics, and existing genomic resources, which facilitate experimentation and data reproducibility.

Laboratory species are often model organisms widely used in biology. Common examples include bacteria such as Escherichia coli; yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster; the plant Arabidopsis thaliana; and vertebrates such as Mus musculus (house mouse) and Rattus norvegicus (Norwegian rat). Each model organism offers specific advantages for particular research questions and has extensive community resources, including standardized strains, genomic sequences, and established protocols.

Selection criteria for laboratory species include rapid reproduction, availability of genetic tools, and predictable biology. Inbred lines and standardized strains reduce genetic variability, enhancing reproducibility. Repositories and stock centers maintain and distribute these lines to researchers worldwide.

Ethical and regulatory considerations are central to laboratory species research. Use of animals is governed by guidelines on welfare, housing, experimental design, and endpoint criteria; microbial and cell line work follows biosafety and biosecurity standards.

The term also encompasses non-animal systems, such as model plants and microorganisms, that serve similar research purposes. The field continues to evolve with new model organisms and technologies, expanding the scope and efficiency of biological research.