Final Self-Reflection

 Rats are small to medium-sized rodents that are found all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. They belong to the genus Rattus, which includes several different species. My group members had several key thoughts that surprised and interested them. Like myself, several of my group members mentioned that they did not know how important rats were. Like many people, when people think of rats it's either a brown one in their attic or a white lab rat. Rats have very important roles throughout our society. Despite their reputation as pests, rats are often used in scientific research because their biology is very similar to that of humans. In fact, many important medical discoveries have been made using rats as test subjects. 

An interesting point that was discussed in our group was how rats are surprisingly represented in a lot of forms of media. Rats have been portrayed in a variety of ways in the media, ranging from cute and lovable to dirty and disease-ridden. In children's movies and cartoons, rats are often depicted as friendly and intelligent, such as in the popular children's movie "Ratatouille," where a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a chef in a French restaurant. On the other hand, in horror movies and thrillers, rats are often portrayed as menacing creatures that bring fear and danger to humans. 

In conclusion, our group has learned a great deal about rats and their role in our world. While rats are often seen as pests and carriers of disease, they also have important biological similarities to humans and have contributed to many important medical discoveries. It's important to understand the behavior and biology of rats in order to control their populations and minimize the risks they pose to human health and property. We hope that our project has provided valuable insights into the fascinating world of rats and has helped to shed light on some of the complexities of the relationship between humans and these intelligent and adaptable creatures.





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