Modellsystems

Modellsystems, or model systems, are simplified representations used in science to study complex phenomena under controlled conditions. They allow researchers to manipulate variables, observe causal relationships, and test hypotheses that would be difficult or unethical in more complex settings.

Common model systems in biology include model organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast), Escherichia coli, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and Mus musculus. In addition, cultured cell lines, organoids, and in vitro assays provide cellular- or tissue-level models. Outside biology, model systems can include physical or computational models that simulate natural laws or complex systems.

Key advantages are experimental tractability, rapid generation times, genetic or methodological tools, and the ability to reproduce results across laboratories. Limitations include the risk that findings do not translate to more complex organisms or human biology, differences in evolutionary distance, and the risk of oversimplifying networks or context. Therefore, results from modellsystems are typically followed by validation in additional models or clinical studies.

Selection of a model system depends on the scientific question, the conservation of the relevant pathways, tool availability, ethical considerations, and practical factors such as cost and containment requirements.

Across disciplines, modellsystems have shaped foundational knowledge and remain essential for education, method development, and translational research, even as new technologies broaden the repertoire of available systems.