Animal Studies Flashcards
What is evolutionary continuity?
The belief that humans and animals are basically the same but at different stages of evolution. So research into animal behaviour can offer insights into human behaviour.
What is one practical advantage of using animals in research?
- Animals reproduce more rapidly than humans.
- Animals have a shorter life span so study over a lifetime is more convenient.
- Animals are easier to control than humans which means it is easier to conduct lab experiments.
What is required for animal research to be conducted?
All animal research must be licensed by the home office.
What must researchers demonstrate regarding the 3 ‘R’s - Russel and Burch (1959) ?
They must consider replacing, reducing, and refining procedures for animal research.
What does ‘replacing’ refer to in the context of the 3 ‘R’s?
Replacing animals with non-sentient alternatives whenever possible.
What does ‘reducing’ refer to in the context of the 3 ‘R’s?
Reducing the number of animals used in research.
What does ‘refining’ refer to in the context of the 3 ‘R’s?
Refining procedures to minimize suffering.
What is ‘speciesism’ according to Singer?
The belief that humans are more important than other species.
What acts are used in regard to the treatment of animals in research?
- The Scientific Procedures act (1986)
- Home office regulations
- BPS guidelines (2012)
What is the purpose of Bateson’s Decision Cube?
To weigh costs to the animal against the benefits of the study.
Aruguements for the use of animals in research
- Humans should use animals if it benefits the human species; Gray (1991)
- Research should take place if it is for the greater good of the greater number (Singer, 1975)
- Evolution means we have similarities with animals and generalising findings from animal studies is appropriate
- It is practical to use animals because of a shorter breeding cycles
Arguements against the use of animals in research
- We should not carry out studies on animals that we would not do on humans; Singer calls this ‘speciesism’
- Animals are different from humans, such as in having different drives and consciousness; this means findings from animal studies are not useful
- It is not certain that results will be beneficial nor how much damage will be done to the animals.
Practical strengths of animal research
- Some procedures require strict control over the environment – this may not be possible with humans
- Some animals have very short gestation periods and short reproductive cycles
- Relatively small and easy to handle. Some animals (mice etc) have a similar brain structure to humans
Practical weaknesses of animal research
- The brains of animals are not the same as humans: results may not be generalisable
- Their genetic structure is not the same as humans: results may not be generalisable
- Human lives are complex and factors rarely occur in isolation
- Some diseases (Parkinson’s) have to be replicated in animals using drugs, and so may not be the same as the disease itself. Therefore, studies might lack validity
Ethical strengths of animal research
- The knowledge obtained may also improve the lives of the species being tested on
- Procedures can be carried out on animals that cannot be done on humans. E.g. ablation and lesioning
- Pro-speciesism suggests that we ought to do all we can to protect our own species
- Drugs have been developed that could otherwise not have been developed.
Ethical weaknesses of animal research
- Animals should be treated ethically . They are not sufficiently different from humans to be treated as objects
- Some procedures require accessing specific parts of the brain that might then be damaged.
- Many animals feel pain
- Animals in experiments are not in their natural surroundings, and therefore distressing conditions
What are the BPS guidelines (2012)?
- Housing conditions -Caging must be suitable for the species
- Reward, deprivation and aversive stimuli - There can be some food deprivation, when a study requires deprivation, normal requirements of the animal must be taken into account, including its metabolic rate
- Anaesthetic, analgesic and euthanasia - Anaesthetic or analgesic (pain killers) should be used in an experiment if necessary, to alleviate suffering, if pain is found, a consideration of humane killing should be undertaken
