Models

“We did this experiment with a mouse model.”

What, like this?

Why not just say “mice” instead of “mouse model”?

If you want to say “mouse model,” make sure that you are clear what the mice are models of. Models are stand ins or representations for something else. In biomedical research, mice are models for human diseases. Saying, “We used a mouse model of human schizophrenia” or “mouse model of human obesity” is fine.

But for something like the genetics of fur colour on mate selection probably means the mouse are not a model for anything else, it’s just a straight up inquiry into mouse biology. Mice for mice’s sake.