Nude mouse is used in genetics because of the following properties -a) Absence of thymusb) Xenograft can be sustained for weeksc) Severe combined immunodeficiency mice is same as nude miced) they can generate mature T lymphocytes
First, the core concept here is about immunodeficient mice and their use in research. Nude mice are a specific strain known for their immune deficiencies. I remember that the term "nude" refers to their lack of hair, which is a visible trait, but the main reason they're used is their immunocompromised state.
Looking at option A: Absence of thymus. Wait, nude mice actually have a thymus, but it's underdeveloped. The mutation in the Foxn1 gene affects hair growth and the development of the thymus. So the thymus is present but non-functional, leading to a lack of mature T cells. So A might not be correct because it's not the absence but the dysfunction.
Option B says xenografts can be sustained for weeks. Xenografts are transplants from another species. Since nude mice have a compromised immune system, they don't reject foreign tissues as quickly. This makes them good hosts for xenografts, allowing the grafts to survive longer for research purposes. So B sounds correct.
Option C claims that severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice are the same as nude mice. I think SCID mice have a different genetic mutation causing a more severe immunodeficiency. SCID is a defect in the DNA repair gene, leading to no functional B or T cells, whereas nude mice have a thymus issue but still some B cells. So C is incorrect because they are different models.
Option D states they can generate mature T lymphocytes. If the thymus is underdeveloped, the T cells can't mature there. So D is incorrect because nude mice can't produce mature T cells, which is why they're used for xenografts.
Putting this together, the key point is that nude mice are used because their immune system can't reject xenografts, allowing the grafts to survive. The correct answer is B. The other options either conflate with other mouse models (like SCID) or misunderstand the nature of their immunodeficiency.
**Core Concept**
Nude mice are genetically immunodeficient due to a mutation in the Foxn1 gene, leading to defective thymic development and impaired T-cell maturation. They are widely used in research for xenotransplantation studies due to their reduced immune rejection of foreign tissues.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
**Option B** is correct because nude mice lack functional T cells, which are critical for rejecting xenografts (grafts from other species). Their compromised immune system allows xenografts to survive for weeks, making them ideal models for studying human tumor growth, tissue engineering, and immune response mechanisms.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Incorrect. Nude mice have a rudimentary thymus but lack mature T cells due to thymic hypoplasia, not complete absence.
**Option C:** Incorrect. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice have a distinct genetic defect (PRKDC gene mutation) causing absence of both B and T cells, whereas nude mice retain some B