For those who didn't read the five-part Slate series " Pepper, the stolen dog who changed American science " by Daniel Engber , I recommend it for the history, but also for the misconceptions and assumptions that you might want to discuss on the Facebook discussion about the series. For Engber, who dispassionately describes procedures most of the time, the "advances" in the medical care of humans are all well worth what he and other vivisectionists do to dogs and other sentient nonhumans. MORE

Animal Person , someone who is clearly smarter than me, has a great analysis about the recent "Pepper" series in Slate about animal research. At least he didn't try to make me feel happy or warm and fuzzy about animal research. I'm not saying he was the most compassionate person in the world, and I'm not saying that I admire or like him, but at least there was some self-criticism and, yes, some guilt there that I find lacking in the animal researchers I've encountered. MORE

Some scientists say it could end in a generation if we pursue the creation of "virtual humans" and living cell banks as research replacements. Tags: animal experimentation animal research medical research science I think we could change things even sooner, but I just don't see the will or the interest in most of the scientific community. I just don't understand why. MORE

I really believe the more people learn about what research animals go through, the more common decency becomes a factor. But how many animal research supporters (non-scientists) actually step into a room and observe an experiment? The RSPCA collected these signatures leading up to the the 7th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences in Rome. Tags: animal experimentation UK europe research alternatives medical research MORE

The feud between animal rights activists and researchers is among the bitterest in science. But many researchers - although adamant that animal research remains critical to finding cures and expanding medical knowledge - have come to concede that using creatures as human stand-ins is unnecessary for many procedures. Tags: animal experimentation medical research They're not necessarily questioning the ethics, but the efficacy. MORE

She is the "science" one and likes to call herself an "independent" on the political landscape. She supports medical research on animals. One scene has the author entering the part of the hospital where the research animals are. This woman, who I now mentally call "THE VIVISECTOR," defended medical research. She said that there were guidelines on how to treat animals and that, in medical ethics, they are considered "sacrifices." MORE

This statement is mainly motivated by a recent conversation with someone who has a science degree (I think it's biology), but who actually works for a clinical testing company. One of the issues raised by a member was that we need to listen to "science" more and that science will save us. I raised the point that science does not solve everything. This is one of the reasons why we are still on the losing end of the battle with animal researchers. MORE

Here's a site for kids to program them to become "the next generation of laboratory animal science professionals." the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science Foundation. Also, it's a great way to get girls interested in science! The AALAS Foundation has teamed up with the Whyville Web site to launch the Community Animal Research Environment (CARE), a series of educational games in a virtual laboratory. MORE

I responded to a post on animalblog that cited a recent article in the journal "Proceedings" of the National Academy of Sciences. The article discusses how scientists are infecting monkeys with a surrogate HIV virus that does not even lead to AIDS, begging the question of why infect them in first place if there's no real simulation of what happens in humans? Here's my response on medical research in general. This story on HIV research is one example. MORE

This particular animal research controversy is occurring in New South Wales (Australia). Welfare groups are calling for an urgent public debate on animal testing amid claims millions of creatures are being killed or maimed every year in Australia in the name of science. New figures published by the NSW government's advisory body, the Animal Research Review Panel, show the number of animals killed in NSW experiments rose by more than 1,000 to 8,813 during 2006-2007. MORE

But I want to be able to argue about it intelligently, citing science, not just morals. Apparently, there is a lot of argument out there than animal experimentation is even good for humans. A drug may work on an animal, but fail miserably on a human. Drugs are not always predictable from human to human even. And how can one expect an animal with a human disease to react the way the human body does? MORE