murine

Murine is an adjective used in biology to describe anything relating to mice or, more broadly, to members of the subfamily Murinae, which includes true mice and many rats. The term derives from Latin murinus, meaning "of a mouse."

In taxonomy, murine animals belong to the order Rodentia, family Muridae, subfamily Murinae. The house mouse (Mus musculus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are among the most common murines studied in laboratories. Wild murines are small, gnawing mammals with rapidly growing incisors and well-developed senses of smell and hearing.

In biomedical research, murine models are widely used to study human diseases, genetics, and drug responses. Researchers breed inbred strains for experimental consistency and employ genetic modification to create transgenic or knockout mice. Murine cells and tissues are also used in in vitro experiments. The term is also used in veterinary and ecological contexts to describe pathology observed in murine populations.

Although murine models provide valuable insights, they have limitations due to species differences in physiology and immune responses, which can affect the applicability of findings to humans. Careful experimental design and cross-species validation are often required.