Current:Home > reviews'Are you a model?': Crickets are so hot right now -FundPrime
'Are you a model?': Crickets are so hot right now
View
Date:2025-04-12 22:04:39
Have you ever wondered how biologists choose what animal to use in their research? Since scientists can't do a lot of basic research on people, they study animals to shed light on everything from human health to ecosystems to genetics. And yet, just a handful of critters appear over and over again. Why the mouse? Or the fruit fly? Or the zebrafish?
When scientists look to a model organism, as they're called, there are a lot of factors to consider. But there's also pragmatism.
"When we try to choose a model organism, fundamentally, we're looking for convenience," says Cassandra Extavour, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard.
The animal has to be a manageable size and, ideally, reproduce quickly. And, it can't be too expensive to maintain.
"So, maybe not very picky about what it eats or drinks," Cassandra says. "A lot of model organisms that are commonly used like mice or fruit flies are organisms that are garbage feeding, organisms that will live anywhere on anything."
Cassandra talked with Short Wave co-host Aaron Scott about her favorite new model critter on the block: crickets. (Well, "favorite" might be a strong word. As Cassandra concedes, "to be honest, my opinion about crickets is sort of neutral to slightly grossed out.")
On today's episode we leave the mouse to its maze, and instead consider the cricket and all the amazing things it can teach us.
Do you have a story or a question about a model organism you want to share with us? Or an idea for what we should cover in a future episode? Then email us at shortwave@npr.org. We can't always respond, but know that we read every email we get.
This episode was produced by Brit Hanson and Thomas Lu, edited by Gabriel Spitzer and Rebecca Ramirez, and fact-checked by Brit Hanson. Tre Watson was the audio engineer.
veryGood! (52)
Related
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Tinashe says she tries to forget collaborations with R. Kelly, Chris Brown: 'So embarrassing'
- Fire at paper mill property in northern Michigan closes roads, prompts warning to avoid area
- How they got him: Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante arrested after 2-week pursuit in Pennsylvania
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Republicans raise the specter of widespread COVID-19 mandates, despite no sign of their return
- Man gets DUI for allegedly riding horse while drunk with open container of alcohol
- 'Oldest start-up on earth': Birkenstock's IPO filing is exactly as you'd expect
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Rural nursing home operators say new staff rules would cause more closures
Ranking
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Pakistani court rejects ex-PM Imran Khan’s bail plea in case related to leaking state secrets
- Afghan soldier who was arrested at US-Mexico border after fleeing Taliban is granted asylum
- With incandescent light bulbs now banned, one fan has stockpiled 4,826 bulbs to last until he's 100
- Small twin
- Powerful explosion kills 4 Palestinians in Gaza. Israel says the blast was caused by mishandled bomb
- Rural nursing home operators say new staff rules would cause more closures
- Sydney blanketed by smoke for a 4th day due to hazard reduction burning
Recommendation
Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
2 men sentenced to life without parole in downtown Pittsburgh drive-by shooting that killed toddler
Botulism outbreak tied to sardines served in Bordeaux leaves 1 person dead and several hospitalized
Judge severs Trump's Georgia case, and 16 others, from trial starting in October
Bodycam footage shows high
Top Chef's Stephanie Izard Shares What's in Her Kitchen, Including a $11 Find She Uses Every Day
Los Angeles Rams place rookie QB Stetson Bennett on non-football injury list
Prison escapee Danelo Cavalcante captured after 2-week manhunt, Pennsylvania police say