Giant Microbes - Black Lab Mouse (C57BL/6)

Of course, untold numbers of fruit flies and the nematode C. elegans have also made the ultimate sacrifice and rendered incalculable service to humanity. But for many questions relating to genetics, immunology, cancer-research, and drug testing, only a mammalian relative is close enough on the family tree to provide answers.

Out of over 3,000 varieties of lab mice, the breed of black mice known as C57BL/6 is the most well-known and widely used animal models in research. They’re an inbred variety of mice raised in laboratories to be used as research specimens for studying behavioral patterns, genetic inheritance, chronic illnesses, and immunology.

But regardless of whether our mortality justifies the morality, we should certainly acknowledge and be grateful for the magnitude of the debt that we owe to these tiny creatures.

GIANTmicrobes are based on actual microbes, cells, organisms and other critters, only 1,000,000 times actual size! Each plush includes a printed card with fun, educational and fascinating facts about the actual microbe or cell.