Thus, although Parkin-deficient mice do not fully recapitulate the symptoms of PD patients or the phenotype observed in Drosophila, they display a range of pathological alterations; in combination with additional stress that mimics potential environmental damage (e.g., mtDNA mutations), these mice represent a sufficient model for studies of neurodegenerative disorders. The gene discussed is PRKN; the disease is Parkinson disease.