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If studying genetics, rats are a popular choice because they breed quickly, having a gestation period lasting under a month. Also, they live longer than mice do, up to four or six years if in good health. They also have a variety of coat, fur, and eye colors that would make basic study of genetics easy by studying offsprings' genes in relation to their parents. I was under the impression that Mendel mainly studied pea plants, though. But that would be my guess why; the reasons for his studying peas are similar to why one would study rats. It's practical.

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16y ago

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