Genome-edited rabbit, a prospective alternative model for neurological diseases

Animal models have great importance in the research of human neurodegenerative diseases due to their value symptom mimicking, mechanism investigation, and preclinical tests. Although non-human primate large animal good performance disease modeling high maintenance cost critical ethical standards, rodent are commonly used. Rodent been successfully applied many neurological diseases; however, genetic background, neuroanatomical features, nervous system development different from those humans. Moreover, short lifespan small body size also limit monitoring progression observation clinical symptoms studying neuronal disorders that late-onset or a long course progression. In comparison with rodents, rabbits phylogenetically closer humans similarities brain development, thus an alternate model for diseases.