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Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

Germ-Free (GF) Animal Model

Evidence-informed definition Updated May 20, 2026 How to cite this entry

The germ-free (GF) animal model refers to the study of animals raised in a sterile environment free of microorganisms (i.e., beneficial and pathogenic microbes) for research purposes (Bhattarai & Kashyap, 2016).

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Written by The Center for Nutritional Psychology
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2026). Germ-Free (GF) Animal Model. In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.

https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/germ-free-gf-animal-model/
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