The correct spelling of "hairless mice" is /ˈhɛrˌlɛs ˈmaɪs/, as indicated by the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first syllable, "hair," is pronounced with an open-mid front unrounded vowel represented by the symbol /ɛ/. The second syllable, "less," is pronounced with a voiceless alveolar fricative represented by the symbol /s/. The final syllable, "mice," is pronounced with a voiced alveolar fricative represented by the symbol /z/. This spelling and pronunciation accurately reflect the physical characteristics of these unique rodents.
Hairless mice are a distinct breed of mice characterized by their lack of fur or body hair. Also known as nude mice, they are bred through genetic manipulation or selective breeding to produce a trait called "alopecia," which prevents the development of hair follicles.
Hairless mice exhibit a visibly hairless appearance, revealing bare and smooth skin instead. They have become valuable subjects for scientific research due to their unique physiological features. This breed provides researchers with the ability to study various aspects of skin conditions, immune responses, and the effects of certain diseases on the body without the interference of fur.
In laboratory settings, hairless mice have contributed significantly to the understanding of human biology and medical advancements. Due to the lack of protective fur, they are more sensitive to external factors such as temperature changes and infections. This characteristic enables scientists to study the impact of environmental factors on the immune system, skin diseases, and drug testing. Additionally, their hairless skin is more permeable, allowing for easier drug absorption and topical treatments evaluation.
Hairless mice have played a pivotal role in the advancement of dermatology, immunology, genetics, and pharmaceutical research. Their unique phenotype has greatly contributed to the scientific community's understanding of various aspects of human health and the development of new treatments and therapies.
The etymology of the phrase "hairless mice" originates from the combination of the words "hairless" and "mice".
"Hairless" is derived from the Middle English word "herles", which in turn comes from the Old English words "hǣr" (hair) and "-lēas" (lacking). The suffix "-lēas" often indicates the absence or lack of something. Hence, "hairless" means lacking hair.
The word "mice" is the plural form of "mouse", which comes from the Middle English word "mous", borrowed from the Old English word "mūs". The term refers to the small rodents belonging to the family Muridae.
Putting these two words together, "hairless mice" describes a type of mice that are genetically or naturally lacking hair.