Editing Rat (section)

==As subjects for scientific research==
{{Anchor|Subjects for scientific research}}
{{main|Laboratory rat}}
[[File:Rat diabetic.jpg|thumb|left|A laboratory rat strain, known as a [[Zucker rat]], bred to be genetically prone to [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]], a [[metabolic disorder]] also found among humans]]
In 1895, [[Clark University]] in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]], established a population of domestic [[albino]] brown rats to study the effects of diet and for other [[physiology|physiological]] studies.{{fact|date=March 2025}} Over the years, rats have been used in many experimental studies, adding to our understanding of [[genetics]], [[disease]]s, the effects of [[drug]]s, and other topics that have provided a great benefit for the [[health]] and wellbeing of humankind.<ref>{{Citation |last=Research |first=National Research Council (US) and Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical and Behavioral |title=Benefits Derived from the Use of Animals |date=1988 |work=Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical and Behavioral Research |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218274/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |language=en}}</ref>

The [[aortic arch]]es of the rat are among the most commonly studied in murine models due to marked [[comparative anatomy|anatomical homology]] to the human [[cardiovascular system]].<ref name="Casteleynetal2017">{{Cite journal|last1=Casteleyn|first1=Christophe|last2=Trachet|first2=Bram|last3=Van Loo|first3=Denis|last4=Devos|first4=Daniel G H|last5=Van den Broeck|first5=Wim|last6=Simoens|first6=Paul|last7=Cornillie|first7=Pieter|date=2017-04-19|title=Validation of the murine aortic arch as a model to study human vascular diseases|journal=Journal of Anatomy|volume=216|issue=5|pages=563–571|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01220.x |pmc=2871992|pmid=20345858}}</ref> Both rat and human aortic arches exhibit subsequent branching of the [[brachiocephalic trunk]], left [[common carotid artery]], and left [[subclavian artery]], as well as geometrically similar, nonplanar curvature in the [[Aorta#Aortic arch|aortic branch]]es.<ref name="Casteleynetal2017" /> Aortic arches studied in rats exhibit abnormalities similar to those of humans, including altered [[pulmonary arteries]] and double or absent aortic arches.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=James G. |last2=Warkany |first2=Josef |title=Cardiac and Aortic Arch Anomalies in the Offspring of Vitamin a Deficient Rats Correlated with Similar Human Anomalies |journal=Pediatrics |date=April 1950 |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=708–725 |doi=10.1542/peds.5.4.708 |pmid=15417271 }}</ref> Despite existing anatomical analogy in the inthrathoracic position of the heart itself, the murine model of the heart and its structures remains a valuable tool for studies of human cardiovascular conditions.<ref name="Casteleynetal2017" />

The rat's larynx has been used in experimentations that involve inhalation toxicity, allograft rejection, and irradiation responses. One experiment described four features of the rat's larynx. The first being the location and attachments of the thyroarytenoid muscle, the alar cricoarytenoid muscle, and the superior cricoarytenoid muscle, the other of the newly named muscle that ran from the arytenoid to a midline tubercle on the cricoid. The newly named muscles were not seen in the human larynx. In addition, the location and configuration of the laryngeal alar cartilage was described. The second feature was that the way the newly named muscles appear to be familiar to those in the human larynx. The third feature was that a clear understanding of how MEPs are distributed in each of the laryngeal muscles was helpful in understanding the effects of botulinum toxin injection. The MEPs in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, cricothyroid muscle, and superior cricoarytenoid muscle were focused mostly at the midbelly. In addition, the medial thyroarytenoid muscle were focused at the midbelly while the lateral thyroarytenoid muscle MEPs were focused at the anterior third of the belly. The fourth and final feature that was cleared up was how the MEPs were distributed in the thyroarytenoid muscle.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Inagi |first1=Katsuhide |last2=Schultz |first2=Edward |last3=Ford |first3=Charles |title=An Anatomic Study of the Rat Larynx: Establishing the Rat Model for Neuromuscular Function |journal=Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery |date=1998 |volume=118 |issue=1 |pages=74–81 |doi=10.1016/s0194-5998(98)70378-x|pmid=9450832 }}</ref>

Laboratory rats have also proved valuable in psychological studies of learning and other mental processes (Barnett 2002), as well as to understand [[group behavior]] and overcrowding (with the work of [[John B. Calhoun]] on [[behavioral sink]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why do we use rats? |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/research-at-cambridge/animal-research/what-types-of-animal-do-we-use/rats#:~:text=Almost%20all%20disease%2Dlinked%20human,less%20timid%20and%20more%20intelligent. |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=Cambridge University| date=28 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ramsden |first1=Edmund |last2=Adams |first2=Jon |title=Escaping the Laboratory: The Rodent Experiments of John B. Calhoun & Their Cultural Influence |journal=Journal of Social History |date=2009 |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=761–792 |id={{Gale|A197666893}} |doi=10.1353/jsh/42.3.761 |jstor=27696487 |url=http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/59888/1/__lse.ac.uk_storage_LIBRARY_Secondary_libfile_shared_repository_Content_Adams%2C%20J_Escaping%20laboratory_Adams_Escaping%20laboratory_2014.pdf }}</ref> A 2007 study found rats to possess [[metacognition]], a mental ability previously only documented in humans and some [[primates]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Foote |first1=Allison L. |last2=Crystal |first2=Jonathon D. |title=Metacognition in the Rat |journal=Current Biology |date=March 2007 |volume=17 |issue=6 |pages=551–555 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2007.01.061 |pmid=17346969 |pmc=1861845 |bibcode=2007CBio...17..551F }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Rats Capable Of Reflecting On Mental Processes |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070308121856.htm |work=ScienceDaily |publisher=University of Georgia |date=9 March 2007 }}</ref>

Domestic rats differ from wild rats in many ways. They are calmer and less likely to bite; they can tolerate greater crowding; they breed earlier and produce more offspring; and their [[brain]]s, [[liver]]s, [[kidney]]s, [[adrenal gland]]s, and [[heart]]s are smaller (Barnett 2002).

[[Brown rat]]s are often used as [[model organism]]s for scientific research. 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Entirely new [[breed]]s or "lines" of brown rats, such as the [[Wistar rat]], have been bred for use in laboratories. Much of the genome of ''Rattus norvegicus'' has been sequenced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Genome project |url=http://www.ensembl.org/Rattus_norvegicus/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426133936/http://www.ensembl.org/Rattus_norvegicus/index.html |archive-date=26 April 2006 |access-date=17 February 2007 |publisher=www.ensembl.org}}</ref>

When it comes to conducting tests related to [[intelligence]], learning, and [[drug abuse]], rats are a popular choice due to their high intelligence, ingenuity, [[aggressiveness]], and [[adaptability]]. Their [[psychology]] seems in many ways similar to that of humans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2017 |title=Animal studies in psychology |url=https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2017/01/animal-studies |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=American Psychological Association}}</ref> Inspired by [[B.F. Skinner]]’s famous box which dispensed food pellets when rats pushed a lever, photographer Augustin Lignier gave two rats periodic, unpredictable rewards for pressing a button. He likened their repeated button-pressing behaviors to people’s fascinations with digital and social media.<ref name="i735">{{cite web |last=Anthes |first=Emily |date=2024-01-23 |title=Even Rats Are Taking Selfies Now (and Enjoying It) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/science/photography-rats-selfies.html |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

===General intelligence===
<!-- This header is linked in [[Intelligence]], [[Mammal]], [[Animal cognition]], and [[Neuroscience and intelligence]]; if renamed, please update links! -->
Early studies found evidence both for and against measurable intelligence using the [[g factor (psychometrics)|"g factor"]] in rats.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lashley |first1=K. S. |title=Brain mechanisms and intelligence: A quantitative study of injuries to the brain |date=1929 |doi=10.1037/10017-000 }}{{pn|date=March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thorndike |first1=R. L. |date=1935 |title=Organization of behavior in the albino rat |journal=Genetic Psychology Monographs |volume=17 |pages=1–70 }}</ref> Part of the difficulty of understanding [[animal cognition]], generally, is determining what to measure.<ref name=Matzel2017>{{cite journal |last1=Matzel |first1=LD |last2=Sauce |first2=B |title=Individual differences: Case studies of rodent and primate intelligence |journal=Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition |date=October 2017 |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=325–340 |doi=10.1037/xan0000152 |pmid=28981308 |pmc=5646700 }}</ref> One aspect of intelligence is the ability to learn, which can be measured using a maze like the [[T-maze]].<ref name=Matzel2017/> Experiments done in the 1920s showed that some rats performed better than others in maze tests, and if these rats were selectively bred, their offspring also performed better, suggesting that in rats an ability to learn was heritable in some way.<ref name=Matzel2017/>