Gray Short-tailed Opossum
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215581869
2008-05-28T20:52:10Z
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{{Taxobox
| name = Gray Short-tailed Opossum<ref name=MSW>{{MSW3 Gardner|pages=14}}</ref>
| status = LR/lc
| status_system = iucn2.3
| status_ref = <ref>{{IUCN2006|assessors=New World Marsupial Specialist Group|year=1996|id=40514|title=Monodelphis domestica|downloaded=12 May 2006}} </ref>
| image = Monodelphis_domestica.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
| ordo = [[Didelphimorphia]]
| familia = [[Didelphidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Didelphinae]]
| genus = ''[[Monodelphis]]''
| species = '''''M. domestica'''''
| binomial = ''Monodelphis domestica''
| binomial_authority = ([[Johann Andreas Wagner|Wagner]], 1842)
}}
The '''Gray Short-tailed Opossum''' (''Monodelphis domestica'') is a small member of the [[Didelphidae]] [[family (biology)|family]] of opossums. It was the first [[marsupial]] to have its genome sequenced. It is naturally found in arboreal habitats in [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]] and [[Paraguay]]. The opossum is used as [[model organism|research model]] in science<ref name=sfbr>{{cite web | url = http://www.sfbr.org/pages/about_resources5.php | title = Extraordinary Resources: The Laboratory Opossum | work = [[SFBR]] | accessdate = 2007-04-13}}</ref>, and is also frequently found in the [[exotic pet]] trade. It is also known as the '''Brazilian Opossum''', '''Rainforest Opossum''' and in a research setting the '''Laboratory Opossum'''.
==Laboratory Opossum==
The gray short-tailed opossum possesses several features that make in ideal [[model organism|research model]] particularly in studies of [[marsupial]]s, as well as the [[immunology|immunological]] and developmental research on [[mammal]]ian systems. It breeds relatively easily in laboratory settings and neonates are exposed and can be readily accessed because, unlike other marsupial species, females opossums lack a [[Pouch (marsupial)|pouch]]: neonates simply cling to the teats. Opossums are born at a stage that is approximately equivalent to 13-15-day old fetal [[rat]]s or 40-day old human [[embryo]]s. Like other marsupials, the inadequacies of the neonates immune system function make it an ideal model for both [[organ transplant|transplant]] and [[oncology|cancer research]], as well as general investigations into [[immune system]] development<ref>
{{cite journal |
author = Wang Z |
coauthors = Hubbard GB, Pathak S, and VandeBerg JL|
year = 2003 |
month = October |
title = ''In vivo'' opossum xenograft model for cancer research |
journal = Cancer Research |
volume = 63 |
pages = 6121–6124 |
pmid = 14559788 |
url= http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/63/19/6121}}
</ref>.
Its [[genome]] was sequenced and a working draft published in May 2007:<ref>
{{cite journal |
author = Mikkelsen TJ et al. |
year = 2007 |
month = May|
title = Genome of the marsupial ''Monodelphis domestica reveals innovation in non-coding sequences'' |
journal = Nature |
volume = 447 |
pages = 167–177 |
pmid = |
url= http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v447/n7141/full/nature05805.html|
doi = 10.1038/nature05805}}</ref> the decoding work, directed by [[MIT]] and [[Harvard]], reveals the opossum to have between 18,000 and 20,000 [[protein-coding genes]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.knowyoursto.com/ Know Your STO (Short-tailed Opossums)], pet care website by Molly Kalafut
{{Didelphimorphia|D.1}}
[[Category:Opossums]]
[[Category:Mammals of South America]]
[[Category:Mammals of Brazil]]
[[Category:Fauna of Paraguay]]
[[Category:Model organisms]]
[[de:Spitzmausbeutelratten]]
[[mt:Opossum ta' denbu qasir griż]]
[[pl:Opos krótkoogonowy]]