Use of animals in laboratory experiments

Question 1

What are the features of the BPS animal guidelines and why of each?
5

Answer 1

• Confinement, restraint, stress and harm (>trauma)
• Diff species need considered (>pain/discomfort)
• Optimise research design (>nb animals used)
• Caging/social environment catered to needs of species (>distress) (overcrowding/isolation)
• Deprivation (food/water) of needs of species

Question 2

What are the pros of using animals in lab experiments?

3

Answer 2

• Condition process same in all animals (behaviourists)
• > Ethical issues, harm ^acceptable, no consent need
• Animals >breeding cycles, study effects over gens ^easily

Question 3

What are the cons of using animals in lab experiments?

3

Answer 3

• Can’t generalise animals to humans
• Unethical, pain/suffering (death) - Harlow’s exprmts
• Guidelines not effective Dunayer says animal legislation = standards for imprisonment, enslavement

Question 4

What are the features of the scientific procedures act (1986) and Home regulations office regulations?
3

Answer 4

• Protected animals (vertebrae animals, those halfway through gestation period)
• Replacement, reduction, refinement (animals should be replaced with suitable alternatives)
• Breeding, accomm, care of protected animals to be refined (>pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm)