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Animal Experimentation

 

Alternatives to Animal Testing Gaining Ground

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Advances in technology could lead to the declining use of animal testing over the next couple of decades if new systems are accepted by researchers and government regulators. Global estimates of animals used in research experiments range from tens of millions to 100 million or more per year; 80 to 800 animals are used in testing for each new drug introduced.

HRC’s Free Research Primer Series

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When fellow animal advocates ask me questions about research on animal protection issues, I typically ask them if they have looked at our research primers. In response, I usually hear "Research what? Where?" I am guessing that many advocates, even those of you who follow our work, are not aware of the full wealth of free data we have available. Here I want to highlight HRC's research primers, since they are a free resource that can help all advocates better understand the issues on which they are working. So let me tell you a little about them.

Relevance of Brain and Behavioural Lateralization to Animal Welfare

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Research on a range of animal species shows that the left hemisphere of the brain controls patterns of behavior in non-stressful situations, while the right hemisphere of the brain responds to unexpected stimuli and other emergency situations. The authors suggest that developing animals with left-hemisphere dominance may enhance animal welfare.

Tweaking the Experiments: Most People Now Accept the Growing Use of Genetically Modified Mice

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Official statistics in Great Britain reveal that genetically modified animals now represent the majority of animals used in experiments. In 2009 British researchers experimented on 3.6 million animals, 83% of which were rodents. Public acceptance of the use of genetically modified animals for experiments has also increased.

Interview with AAVS President Sue Leary

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[Excerpt from the interview] As a movement, we can engage in self-expression, which is great, but if we want to achieve meaningful, lasting change for animals, we will need to reach out to people who don’t have this top of mind. What I mean is, it's hard when we have our heads in this 24/7 to put ourselves in the position of the person on the receiving end of the message. The only real way to know is to research that.

Can Animal Models of Disease Reliably Inform Human Studies?

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The use of animal studies in predicting the effectiveness of treatments in human patients is controversial because of the systematic bias and failure to report complete data in findings. Publication bias may account for up to one-third of this disparity in efficacy, according to this article.

Males Still Dominate Animal Studies

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A study of several surveys undertaken during the 1990s found a significant bias toward the use of male animals in biomedical research experiments.

Science and Technology Report

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The objectives of this Eurobarometer survey were to assess European citizens' attitudes toward science and technology and to see if perceptions have changed since the 2005 survey. Regarding the use of animals in research, nearly half of European Union citizens agree that scientist should use dogs and monkeys for experiments if it leads to cures for humans.

Dissection as an Instructional Technique in Secondary Science: Choice and Alternatives

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Based on a study of retrospective data concerning high school dissection, this study examined the role of dissection in the teaching of secondary biology and environmental science and found that such experience often leads to long-lasting negative feelings about dissection.

Animal Research and Demonstrating Animal Sentience

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How should animal advocates react to animal-based scientific experiments if we think the findings can help animals? Should we speak out against the studies and refuse to cite them or should we make use of them with the intent and hope that the animals will not have suffered in vain? It’s a particularly relevant question for HRC because we cover such a breadth of research studies in our HumaneSpot.org database, which includes well over a hundred public opinion and behavior studies that relate to animal testing.


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