Who discovered the rat? - briefly
Carl Linnaeus formally described the species in the 1758 edition of Systema Naturae, assigning it the name Rattus rattus. His classification established the scientific foundation for studying rats.
Who discovered the rat? - in detail
The common brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) entered scientific literature through Carl Linnaeus, who listed the species as Rattus norvegicus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae (1758). Linnaeus provided the first formal taxonomic description, distinguishing it from the black rat (Rattus rattus).
In the mid‑19th century, French physiologist Claude Bernard employed rats to investigate digestion and metabolic processes. Bernard’s experiments demonstrated the animal’s suitability for controlled physiological studies and established the rat as a reproducible experimental subject.
The transition from occasional use to systematic laboratory breeding occurred in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. American researcher William H. Miller, working at the Rockefeller Institute, developed a colony of outbred rats selected for uniform size and temperament. Miller’s colony supplied researchers worldwide and cemented the rat’s role as the principal mammalian model for biomedical research.
Key contributors to the rat’s emergence as a research model:
- Carl Linnaeus (1758): Formal taxonomic description of the species.
- Claude Bernard (1850s): First extensive physiological experiments using rats.
- William H. Miller (1900s): Established standardized laboratory colonies, enabling widespread adoption.
These milestones trace the rat’s evolution from a ubiquitous pest to a cornerstone of experimental science.