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The rat, hated and loved at the same time, is both scourge and servant to mankind. They are involved in transmission of numerous infectious diseases to man including cholera, bubonic plague and typhus. The rat remains a major pest, contributing to famine, along with other rodents, by eating about one-fifth of the world's food supply annually. Paradoxically, the rat's contribution to human health cannot be overestimated, from testing new drugs, to understanding essential nutrients. Here, Nature presents the sequence of the rat genome, as well as news, features and interactive graphics.
All content is available free, either below or in the new digital edition of Nature.
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