Question

Assess the following argument by analogy: Go through each of the 3 checks, and then write your conclusion about the analogy (strong or weak).

Check #1: Specify exactly what is being compared

Check #2: List several similarities (both of the objects/events/ideas compared have a, b, and c).

Check #3: Find at least 1 key difference if you can (the objects/events/ideas compared are different in d or in e). This is a matter of quality, not quantity

Is this weak or strong analogy?

Mice are mammals, have a mammalian circulatory system, have typical mammalian biochemical reactions, and experience a reduction in blood cholesterol when given the new Drug Z. Humans are mammals, have a mammalian circulatory system, and have typical mammalian biochemical reactions. Therefore, humans will also experience a reduction in blood cholesterol when given the new Drug Z.

Answer 1

Researchers has been using mice as a model organism since long years back to understand the complex molecular mechanism and biochemical reactions in human body. From the disease causing gene expression to the discovery of drugs for the human, the most appropriate mammalian model organism is mice. Although the all aspects of mice biology do not always reflects on the human biology, but there are few similar aspects that will allow scientists to identify mice can serve best as a model organism.

Similarities

The researchers have found that, the systems for controlling the genome activity in these two mammalian species are quite similar, and have been preserved over long time. By comparing the genomes of mice and human, they have found that there is something common which are used at the molecular level by both and at the same time, this is remarkably flexible and has differed greatly throughout evolution.However, they have also found certain disimilarities in the DNA sequence, and patterns of gene expression which are not shared. They have discovered that there are many well-preserved cell processes and biochemical reactions in these two species, like, embryonic development. They also found that human and mice transcriptome contains both preserved and divergent elements.

Key differences

One of the differences is that humans lack a large part of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) on the insulin-producing beta-cells where mice have the complete GPCR and for which many drugs are developed.

Another difference is that the glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) receptor is produced to a larger extent in mouse as compared to human beta-cells. The GLP-1 receptor is activated by the GLP-1 hormone, which is released by the intestinal cells when we take food, which secretes insulin and also it markedly delays gastric emptying.