The laboratory opossum, Monodelphis domestica, as an experimental system
Abstract
Monodelphis domestica is proving to be a useful laboratory animal for the study of embryonic development, reproductive biology, and mammalian evolution at the molecular-genetic, cellular and organismal levels. The genome of this New World metatherian mammal has been characterized and is well known. Laboratory-colony maintenance is no more labor-intensive than for other lab animals. The lab opossum breeds year-round and averages 16 embryos (maximum 13 fetuses) per 14.5-day pregnancy. The most distinctive feature of embryogenesis in this and other metatherian mammals relates to much of fetal development occurring exo utero. Thus, its use for investigations related to mammalian embryology complements what is otherwise learned from studies of eutherian lab mammals, mostly the laboratory mouse.
Repository Citation
Cruz, Yolanda. 2017. "The laboratory opossum, Monodelphis domestica, as an experimental system." Mechanisms of Development 145: S102.
Publisher
Elsevier
Publication Date
7-1-2017
Publication Title
Mechanisms of Development
Department
Biology
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mod.2017.04.265
Notes
Supplement
Language
English
Format
text
