The Use of Non-human Animals in Biomedical Science Flashcards
What animals are commonly used?
The domesticated rat (Rattus norvegicus) was the first rodent species to be used, initially (in 1828) in physiological research.
1909: development of the ‘Wistar Rat’ (about half of all rats used in laboratories today).
Millions of primates were used to produce polio vaccines in the 1950s
Today, mice are the most common animals used.
1980: John Gordon and Franck Ruddle developed the first transgenic mouse.
1988: the first ‘gene knockout mouse’ was created by Mario R. Capecchi, Martin J. Evans, and Oliver Smithies.
The views of Understanding Animal Research
An organisation that ‘aims to achieve broad understanding and acceptance of the humane use of animals in biomedical research in the UK, to advance science and medicine’
Why are animals used in research?
Most of the medicines we have come from animal research.
Often science doesn’t need to use animals, but for many key questions they are crucial.
They will help millions with conditions such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord damage and parasitic infections like malaria
Problems associated with animal testing
The predictive power of nonhuman animal testing for human response might be low
The duplication of nonhuman animal research
What is speciesism?
Speciesism, in applied ethics and the philosophy of animal rights, the practice of treating members of one species as morally more important than members of other species; also, the belief that this practice is justified
Is speciesism defensible?
Legal acts for animal testing
The Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 was the first law to regulate animal experiments (an amendment of the 1835 Cruelty to Animals Act).
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
The 3 R’s in animal testing
Replacement - substitution for conscious living higher animals of insentient material
Reduction - reduction of the number of animals used to obtain information of a given amount & precision
Refinement - any decrease in the incidence or severity of inhumane procedures applied to those animals which still have to be used
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
Demands that some forms of ‘protection’ should be applied to ‘any living vertebrate other than man and any living cephalopod … from the stage of its development when—
(a) in the case of a mammal, bird or reptile, the gestation or incubation period for the relevant species has elapsed; and
(b) in any other case, it becomes capable of independent feeding.’
Alternatives to nonhuman animal research
- Micro-dosing
- Observational studies
- Randomised controlled trials
- Use of human tissues, cells & genes (in vitro)
- Computer testing (in silico)
