Modelling in miniature: Using Drosophila melanogaster to study human neurodegeneration

摘要

Human neurodegenerative diseases are an increasing burden to the current aging society. Scientific developments necessary in order to start treating these disorders include the identification of suitable drugs and drug targets, and lead to increased insights into the pathophysiology underlying these diseases. For this purpose, relevant aspects of disease need to be modelled in a system that allows the appropriate degree of simplification and comes with reasonable costs and convenience, without compromising on the findings’ value. Different models provide different advantages and disadvantages, commonly associated with the organism’s evolutionary proximity to humans on one hand versus the efficacy with which they can be handled, manipulated and investigated on the other.