animal model

noun

: an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine

also : a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar to one occurring in humans

Examples of animal model in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of that is based on preclinical lab studies using animal models, as well as some human observational studies and in vitro work. —Will Stone, NPR, 25 June 2024

In fact, there’s no animal model in which to test the drug therapy. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 June 2024

Additional research available on this topic has mostly been performed on animal models. —Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 6 June 2024

Ethical concerns limit working with biological material from people, so researchers are left with animal models that aren’t able to replicate human physiology closely enough. —Aitor Aguirre, The Conversation, 10 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

animal model

noun

: an animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology, or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine

also : a pathological or physiological condition that occurs in such an animal and is similar (as in its pathology or physiology) to a human condition

experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is a useful animal model in the study of multiple sclerosis in humans