Mouse Monument

A monument to a laboratory mouse is planned to be erected in Akademgorodok

Oksana Tarasenko, NSKTVAn unusual monument will be installed in Novosibirsk Akademgorodok.

Geneticists decided to perpetuate the contribution of the laboratory mouse to science. Millions of these rodents on the planet are dying in laboratories to save human lives. Novosibirsk residents approached the issue outside the box.

A mouse, unfortunately for itself, is an ideal object for research. It's easy to breed, it's cheap to keep. Ten thousand mice work for science in Novosibirsk alone. In the SPF-vivarium of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, rodents live in sterile conditions. And they get sick at the request of scientists to help them understand, for example, the processes of aging, obesity or the effect of new drugs.

Pyotr Menshikov, Chairman of the Council of Scientific Youth of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS: "In some cases we have to use other model objects, for example, cell cultures. But in some cases, these model objects cannot be used. Because cell culture – it doesn't think, it doesn't have a brain, only animals have a brain. And, unfortunately, when we study drugs such as neuroleptics, antidepressants, we can study it in mice and rats."

The feat of the animal was first noted by Lipetsk veterinarians – in a cast. A few years ago, a monument to a laboratory mouse was planned to be installed at the medical university in Novosibirsk. But it didn't work out. Geneticists have gone the furthest. This is how the monument will look – you haven't seen such a mouse yet. Wise with experience and scientific titles, she knits DNA.

The model was approved by the Scientific Council of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics. Proving that people of science are fine not only with a sense of humor, but also with the idea of marketing. In bronze, with a pedestal – more than two meters high – a funny character will certainly attract attention to himself, and at the same time – to the Akademgorodok, and to science. In the new square – right at the walls of the vivarium, in the center of the quarter of four institutes of biological profile, surrounded by information stands, a mouse will knit DNA.

Sergey Lavryushev, Deputy director of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS: "We decided to stylize it so that it would allow us to form some kind of set of urban legends around this place - a biological quarter, laboratory animals, training, education."

This place is conceived as an open–air museum – guests will be reminded about the contribution to science and other laboratory animals - a rat and a dog, a rabbit, a monkey, and a frog. It will be possible to see the miracle mouse on the pedestal at the end of June, by the city Day. And it is quite possible that it will become one of the main attractions of Novosibirsk.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru31.05.2013