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An animal model usually refers to a non-human animal with a disease or altered health state that is similar to a human condition, these test subjects are often termed as animal models of disease. The use of animal models allow researchers to experiment with less restriction caused by ethical regulation of human testing. However, through action of animal rights lobby groups, such as PETA, this freedom of experimentation is much less today than it has been in the past.
In order to serve as an useful model, this disease must be similar in etiology (mechanism of cause) and function to a human one. Therefore, animal models are widely used to learn more about a disease, its diagnosis, or more often, its treatment. For instance, behavioral analogues of anxiety or pain in laboratory animals can be used to screen and to test new drugs for the treatment of these conditions in humans.
Animal models of disease can be spontaneous (naturally occurring in animals, or genetically selected to be so, such as in diabetic mice). The increase in knowledge about the genomes of non-human primates and other mammals genetically closer to humans are allowing the production of genetically engineered and cloned animal tissues, organs and even animal species which express human diseases, thus leading to a safe way to experiment with real human diseases in animal models.
Animal models of disease can also be induced by physical, chemical or biological means, such as the use of metrazol (pentylenetetrazol) as an animal model of epilepsy, infecting animals with pathogens to reproduce human infectious diseases or using ionizing radiation to cause tumors.
Animal models observed in the sciences of psychology and sociology are often termed animal models of behaviour.
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