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| Laboratory mouse | ||||||||||||||||
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Mus musculus (or laboratory mouse) | ||||||||||||||||
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| Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Mus musculus is the house mouse. This mouse is believed to be the second most populous mammalian species on earth, after homo sapiens. Laboratory mice are certain inbred strains of house mice and form important model organisms in biology and medicine.
House mice are fertile on average at 40-50 days old, have a gestation period of 19-21 days, and give birth to an average litter of 5-6 young. One female can have some 5-10 litters per year, so their population can increase very quickly. Breeding occurs throughout the year.
House mice usually live in close proximity of humans, in or around houses or fields. Originally native to Asia (probably Northern IndiaThe Republic of India is a large multicultural country in South Asia, with a population of over one billion. The Indian economy is the fourth largest in the world, in terms of purchasing power parity, and is the world's second-fastest growing economy.), they have since been introduced all over the world.
House mice can transmit diseases, and their droppings can spoil foods. They can also cause substantial damage when feeding on grain. It is thought that house mice were the primary reason for the taming of the domestic cat.
House mice have been bred as pets for a long time, and the laboratory strains are of prime importance in science.
Model organisms