Only humans have human placentas: molecular differences between mice and humans

The mouse is the most frequently used animal model. Originally, the main reasons for this choice were not the similarity to humans, but the fact that mice are small, have a large litter size and short generation times, all features that are very practical for laboratory work. However, in recent years, the value of animal models in general and the mouse model in particular has been questioned more and more as genomic data on the one hand and experimental outcomes on the other hand have revealed marked differences between humans and all other mammals.
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research