• Question: do you harm animals?

    Asked by niamhx to Indi, Jarv, John, Ken, Vicky on 15 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by liamn, marshmallow0606, ikra.
    • Photo: Vicky Young

      Vicky Young answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      I don’t work with animals in my project but I do think that animal testing has its place in science. Its not something people are really happy about doing but there is sometimes no alternatives.

      Although animal testing occurs there are strict laws in place to stop scientists making animals suffer. Animals in labs cannot be in extreme pain and have to be treated in a very fair and humane way. There are vets and other officials who closely monitor these animals. You also need to apply for permission to do any experiments on animals and this needs to be approved by the vets and officials before you can do any tests. So even animals in labs are not really harmed.

    • Photo: Indi Ghangrekar

      Indi Ghangrekar answered on 15 Mar 2012:

      Any animals used in research are very well looked after – for reasons of being kind to the animals and because a stressed animal will make all your data dodgy. Because I study genes in the brain more than behaviour (at the moment), I have to sacrifice the animals at the end of the experiment but it is done very quickly and humanely so that the animals don’t suffer and feel minimal pain. Plus what Vicky said about the strict rules and regulations for carrying out animal work.

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