Question

researchers often use mice to evaluate potential medications for treating human disease. if a medication is successful in the mouse model, it then must be further tested in human clinical trials. which of the following best explains why clinical trials are necessary?
mice and humans live in different environments.
mice and humans evolved independently of one another.
mice and humans have only 80% genetic similarity.
mice and humans have very different biochemistries.
mice are much smaller than humans.

Explanation:

Clinical trials are necessary because mice and humans have distinct biochemical processes (e.g., drug metabolism, receptor interactions) that affect how medications work. Even if a drug is effective in mice, these differences mean its safety and efficacy in humans must be directly tested. Other options are less relevant: environmental differences don’t explain core biological responses, genetic similarity (~85-90%) is not the key issue, independent evolution doesn’t negate shared pathways, and size alone doesn’t drive clinical trial necessity.

Answer:

Mice and humans have very different biochemistries.