hamsters are often just seen as cheap rodents and pests
when in fact hamsters have made a significant impact in
our day-to-day lives in more ways than you might realize
so let's take a look at just a few of the ways they've helped humans
first and foremost let's talk about how hamsters have become beloved pets worldwide
they bring immense joy and companionship into our lives
and just like many other animals also help us with anxiety, stress and even depression
it's been said that about 1.5 million American Homes house a hamster today
but hamsters contributions go beyond just being a fun pet
hamsters have made significant contributions to scientific research
benefiting various studies on genetics, physiology,
behavior and diseases
even though many of us do not agree with using animals in Labs
it is thanks to hamsters that scientists have made such great progress
in understanding human health
the second way hamsters have helped humans is through cancer research
specifically, they've been a part of mesothelioma research a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs,
abdomen or heart
they've been used as models because they're susceptible to developing it after being exposed to certain carcinogens
such as asbestos fibres
they've also played a part in pancreatic cancer research
this is a very aggressive and hard-to-treat type of cancer
they've also been used to study oral cancer, tumor growth and chemotherapy and other Cancer Treatments
the insights gained by studying hamsters have provided valuable information about cancer
and treatment options in humans
hamsters have also made an impact in reproductive research
their contributions have helped researchers better understand human fertility
and reproductive disorders
they've also contributed to advancements in things like reproductive Technologies such as vitro fertilization
which is also known as IVF
hamsters have also played a role in better understanding the Circadian rhythm
circadian rhythms are physical mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle
and they typically respond to light and dark
hamsters have a really well-defined circadian rhythm so they've been largely studied
to understand biological clocks, sleep patterns, the effects of disruptions to our circadian system
and this information is super important for understanding human sleep disorders and developing effective treatments
moving on to neurobiology and behavior
hamsters have been helpful in providing insights into learning and memory specifically in the context of spatial navigation
which refers to the ability of a living being
to be able to perceive remember and to navigate
through its environments using things like landmarks, mental maps and visual cues to move around
and memory formation which is how your brain takes experiences and information
and then turns it into memories
hamsters have also been used to investigate anxiety like behaviors and stress responses
as well as hormonal and neurotransmitter studies which is a chemical messenger
that transmits signals from nerve cells in the brain and throughout the nervous system
that's pretty cool right?
the sixth way hamsters have helped humans is through disease modeling
hamsters have been used as models for studying various diseases specifically infectious diseases
this has helped researchers to learn more about disease mechanisms
tested vaccines and treatments
in fact hamsters were used in scientific studies related to covid
and helped provide information into the transmission and potential treatments to it
education is another area that hamsters have made a difference in
while I would never recommend allowing a child to assume full responsibility over any sort of pet
parents often will choose hamsters as their family's first pet
to help teach their children responsibility, empathy and basic Animal Care to their children with their help
and of course supervision of the hamster
teaching children young about the proper care of animals is so important
and because of a hamster's short lifespan
it can also help them learn about life and death
and last but not least let's not forget about the ecological contribution hamsters play
in their natural habitats they play a crucial role in aerating the soil by burrowing
which also creates homes for other organisms,
dispersing seeds from hoarding
and of course, being a prey animal feeds many other animals in the food chain
so their daily activities contribute to the health and balance of ecosystems
which supports biodiversity
so there you have it eight incredible ways hamsters have helped and benefited humans
throughout the years that hopefully helps you see hamsters
in a different light
if you enjoyed today's video don't forget to give it a thumbs up
and I'll see you guys in my next one bye