Rats are various medium sized rodents. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, R. norvegicus. Many members of other rodent genera and families are also called rats and share many characteristics with true rats. A rat has an average life span of 2-3 years[1].
Rats are distinguished from mice by their size; rats generally have bodies longer than 12 cm (5 in).
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* 1 Species and description * 2 As pets * 3 As subjects of scientific research * 4 Laughter in rats * 5 As food * 6 In culture o 6.1 In Eastern cultures o 6.2 In Western cultures o 6.3 In religion
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[edit] As subjects of scientific research
Main Article: Brown rats in science
A laboratory rat strain known as a Zucker rat. These rats are bred to be genetically prone to diabetes, the same metabolic disorder found among humans.
A laboratory rat strain known as a Zucker rat. These rats are bred to be genetically prone to diabetes, the same metabolic disorder found among humans.
In 1895, Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts (United States) established a population of domestic white brown rats to study the effects of diet and for other physiological studies. Over the years, rats have been used in many experimental studies, which have added to our understanding of genetics, diseases, the effects of drugs, and other topics that have provided a great benefit for the health and wellbeing of humankind. Laboratory rats have also proved valuable in psychological studies of learning and other mental processes (Barnett 2002). A 2007 study found rats to possess metacognition, a mental ability previously only found in humans and some primates.[1][2]
On January, 2008, Doris Taylor, director, Center for Cardiovascular Repair, University of Minnesota used the core procedure of decellularisation to let hearts from animal cadavers beat by infusing live cells. The research
Rat infestations have swarmed throughout the world, looking for food, and spreading diseases, so of course people attempt to get rid of them. First off, they spread disease. It states in Source 1, “Around 60% of the rodents carry Weil's disease...” This quote states that the majority of all rodents, have Weil’s disease. That means that if you see a rat, it is probably infected with disease. This is incredibly dangerous for people walking the street, or someone without a home. That person who does not have a home, could get a disease very easily. The rats can carry disease and they can spread that disease, it even states in Source 4, “It was this rat which ushered in the Black Plague.” In this piece, they are speaking of Black Rats. These rats were probably one of the unlucky 60%, or it was a carrier something that was on them.
Various experiments and measurements were performed in the field in order to compare the two types of rodents. The following is a list of the data collected through multiple observations over a span of two years. We captured 100 rats of each rodent population, and we found the average weight, length, hind limb, and forelimb measurements. In addition, we conducted experiments in regards to their top speed, average height that they could leap, gestation time, and average time spent in the courtship display.
Given that, city rats are the same breed as a pet or lab rat, they can grow to about 16 inches and weigh up to a pound, moreover, their colonies can grow to 40 to 50 rats, and they have the habit of to travel in packs. In addition, when they reproduce, they can mate 20 times in six hours and female rats can give birth to 40 to 70 rats a year. Therefore, they are extremely difficult to kill and New York City, containing an underground subway system, empty lots, apartment complexes and lots of garbage, is the perfect environment for a massive reproduction of these undesirable animals.
The articles, “Ah, rats” by John Byrne and “Chicago Is a Rat's” are about how the rat population has started to grow since 2013, because of mild winters.The article states that Chicago is the No. 1 place in the United States where rats live. Through the July of 2012, 28% more people called than in 2011 the city’s 311 center asking for crews to come out and get rid of these annoying pests.I feel, that rats and other rodents are a threat to the Chicagoland area, because the pests carry various diseases and potentially start a plague or an epidemic.A main point was that since Chicago is so densely populated it means that there is a higher percentage chance for unsanitary streets in the city which will result in more rodents and vermin crawling
People already know that rats are very disgusting creatures that live in sewers and eat trash. But these four articles introduced new insights to the problems that rats cause. Some of them include causing destructive infestations, horrible diseases that can harm or kill people and pets, and the danger of using pesticides to humans. The first reason and paragraph discusses what rat infestations are and why they occur, the second paragraph talks about the dangers to human society, and the third paragraph discusses the ways people are trying to rid their lives of rats.
The Roof rat reaches sexual maturity in 2 to 3 months and can produce up to six litters per year with each litter reaching up to 8 pups. This means that one rat can have up to 48 pups per year. In a few months, those pups will begin producing their own litters.
Rats were known as “trench rats” because they were sizes of small dogs. Rats would consume food that was left on the ground as well as fresh food and take all food supplies which would then be limited for soldiers the next day or so. Rats were also good humour for the soldiers as they would attract it to food and shoot them once they seem them and hang them as a “trophy”.
These are many reasons why this can make everything better. This can help because rats and mices can show if there is anything wrong with your body and it can help figure out how to make it better. “MIce and Rats may show signs of health problems after only 2 years or so”.
Every culture treats rats differently, because of the different belief system each culture has. For instance, the Indian culture worships rats while other cultures view rats as grotesque. Specifically in the YouTube
Consequently, if rats disappear, it will lead to a rush of numbers of small critters and bugs. And they rely on the grains and plants as food. So, it will eventually cause an increase in the pest population even though a rat is also considered a pest according to source one. rats are an important part of the food chain which is the basic key to survival. According to source one, it states that it takes the role of a prey animal when it is eaten by secondary carnivores like cats or snakes so if it disappears as a prey item from their diet,it affects the carnivore population too. They also have almost put an end to pollution in the environment, because of how they clear up the garbage in the streets. A rat also plays the role of a scavenger,a
Rats. Most people view them as unsanitary and dangerous animals that dwell in sewers. These stereotypes lead to a general hatred of rats by much of the world’s population. Most people have never had a positive encounter with a rat. As someone who owns a pet rat, I feel it’s my duty to educate people and prove stereotypes wrong. Rats make excellent, clean companions who can come in a large variety of appearances. Positivity about these lovely creatures needs to be spread, and they should be purchased for a bigger purpose than food for snakes. Stigmas should not be developed against something, especially an innocent living creature, until you’ve obtained all the facts and have personal experience.
Most diabetes research had been done on rodents up to that point, though they possess multiple differences from humans in
There are many misconceptions about rats. People think that rats are unclean and carry disease. In fact, rats are quite clean and groom themselves several times a day. These aren't sewer rats we're talking about. These pet rats, or fancy rats as they're called, have been domesticated and bred in captivity for at least 150 years. Pet rats are quite tame after living with humans for so many generations and you'll find that they are nothing like their stereotypes.
Animals commonly used in medical research are rats and chimpanzees. Over time these species have proven to be plentiful and they have exhibited the ability to sustain the various testing
Rodents can be found everywhere on earth. Among the several different types of rodents, the ones that mostly prefer to live near humans, being the most numerous, are the mice and rats. They live in colonies which comprise of complex hierarchies, wherein they form deep bonds, often putting their own lives at risk to save family and friends. Their best habitats are cavities, holes inside walls, in sewer pipes, in stores where foodstuffs are kept, in the fields and in garbage dumps. As a matter of fact, they love to live anywhere food is available and is convenient for them to put up a nest. In addition, they can easily adjust to any kind of climate and even wipe out original mammals occupying the same niche.