Mouse model: what do Japanese life sciences researchers mean by this term?

• Main Authors: Kae Takahashi, Jin Higashijima, Kazuto Kato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sissa Medialab 2009-01-01
• Series: JCOM: Journal of Science Communication
• Subjects: Science and media; Public communication of and discourses on science and technology
• Online Access: http://jcom.sissa.it/archive/08/01/Jcom0801%282009%29A01/Jcom0801%282008%29A01.pdf

Mouse-related research in the life sciences has expanded remarkably over the last two decades, resulting in growing use of the term “mouse model”. Our interviews with 64 leading Japanese life sciences researchers showed heterogeneities in the definition of “mouse model” in the Japanese life sciences community. Here, we discuss the implications for the relationship between the life sciences community and society in Japan that may result from this ambiguity in the terminology. It is suggested that, in Japanese life sciences, efforts by individual researchers to make their scientific information unambiguous and explanative are necessary.