Using Animals in Research 1
Using Animals in Research 1 Using Animals in Research: A RevPros and Cons Introduction to Psychology September 2005 Using Animals in Research 2 Using Animals in Research: A Review of Necessity Over the last century, little has changed in the debate of using animals for research purposes.Some people believe that it is a cruel and inhumane practice. While others believe animal research is needed to advance, especially in the medical field. There is also a grey area of which most people, including researchers belong. The people in this grey area usually have contradictory ideas regarding animals in research. In helping to form our own opinion, we should address the following questions: 1. Is animal research necessary? 2. Are tests done on animals, such as drug interactions, proved to have the same effects on humans? 3. Are there any alternatives to using animals in research? In the past, animal research has played a major role in the advancement of medical treatment. The French chemist Louis Pastiur studied infectious diseases in animals and found that these diseases derived from external microorganisms. Pastiur proved through these experiments that a vaccine to prevent these diseases could be produced. It's breakthroughs like this that have people believing that animal research is necessary. I believe that this is not the case. Despite
How have Human Beings evolved to their current position in the world
How have Human Beings evolved to their current position in the world? According to Charles Darwin (1859), evolution is the process by which the human species has developed from other species by means of adaptation through natural selection. Darwin proposed this theory in his book "On the Origin of the Species"; his theory of evolution consists of variation, inheritance, competition, natural selection and finally adaptation. Darwin believed that individuals within a species differ from one another; some of this variation is inherited from their parents. Competition between individuals is inevitable as they must compete for the scarce recourses of food or mates. This is followed by natural selection, competition leads to individuals within the species with the best characteristics producing the most offspring, the individuals who are best adapted to their ecological niche will be the fittest as they are more likely to survive and therefore reproduce. Environmental change means that the new characteristics that have developed are continually being selected, promoting evolution and survival of the fittest. One of the best known examples of natural selection in action is that of the English peppered moth, the Biston Betularia. There are two variations of this moth, the light coloured variation known as typica and the dark variation known as carbonaria. In his publication, the
The following is a letter to the editor of an environmental magazine.
The following is a letter to the editor of an environmental magazine. "The decline in the numbers of amphibians worldwide clearly indicates the global pollution of water and air. Two studies of amphibians in Yosemite National Park in California confirm my conclusion. In 1915 there were seven species of amphibians in the park, and there were abundant numbers of each species. However, in 1992 there were only four species of amphibians observed in the park, and the numbers of each species were drastically reduced. The decline in Yosemite has been blamed on the introduction of trout into the park's waters, which began in 1920(trout are known to eat amphibians eggs). But the introduction of trout can not be the real reason for the Yosemite decline because it does not explain the worldwide decline." The reasons listed in the letter seem supportive to the arguer's conclusion that the declination of the number of amphibians around the world suggests the global pollution of water and air. However, a careful examination of this letter would reveal how unfounded it is. The most severe problem with this letter is that the arguer fails to establish a causal relationship between the decrease of the amphibians' number and the global pollution of water and air. The pollution of the water and air may lead to the declination of the number's of animals living on the earth, for worse living
What are the impacts of interspecific hybrids on species conservation?
What are the impacts of interspecific hybrids on species conservation? Rates of hybridisation are increasing dramatically worldwide because of human activities such as the translocation of organisms, habitat fragmentation and modification. As a result, many species have faced, or are facing, extinction. However, hybridisation is also a natural process which has long been recognised as playing an important role in the evolution of plants, and recent studies have found that hybridisation has also played an important role in the evolution of animals. Thus, conservationists need to distinguish between species that have arisen through recent, anthropogenic means and those that have arisen through ancient, natural hybridisation. Conservation policies need to protect the latter species, and also reduce rates of anthropomorphic interspecific hybridisation. Humans often translocate organisms and introduce them into new areas, often with catastrophic effects on the native species. This problem is exemplified by the introduction of the ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicencis from North America into Europe. This species is closely related to the white-headed duck O. leucocephala which is commonly found in Britain and north-western Europe. If these two species meet they interbreed, and the abundance of the ruddy duck suggests that the outcome would be the eventual extinction of the native
Defence mechanisms in animals and plants
Defence mechanisms in animals and plants The aim of this report is to compare and contrast the molecular and cellular differences that enable animals and plants to protest themselves from organisms. In animals, the main forms of molecular defence that I'm going to write about are: * Cytotoxcicity; * Agglutination; * Wound closure; * Cascade reactions; And in plants the main molecular defence is cascade reactions. In animals, cellular defences involve various types of Leukocytes: phagocytes, cell-mediated cytotoxicity and together they synthesize and secrete many molecules defences (listed above). In plants, cellular defences involve chemicals compounds (alkaloids). Plant apparency theory and the resource availability hypothesis explain diversity of plant chemical defence. Cytotoxicity, a molecular defence were molecules are capable of entering some bacteria and cells of animal pathogens. Vertebrates and Invertebrates both have Lysozyme, an enzyme that splits bonds in bacterial cell walls. Antimicrobial peptides are another example of cytotoxicity that destroys many fungi, bacteria, and protoctists parasites. Agglutination, a molecular defence that involves production of molecules (agglutinins) that binds pathogens together by forming cross-links between short-chain carbohydrates on their surface. This immobilizes them near entry site, not allowing them to move about
Intensive Farming.
Intensive Farming Alan Campbell, 4Q Many arguments exist concerning the issue of Intensive Farming. Emotional, sentimental and diverse views are, as always with a topic such as this, greatly prevalent. Perceptions simply containing arguments of animal welfare are many, however not all arguments fully acknowledge the pressures upon farmers to produce livestock by such means. The processes used in intensive, or factory farming, have been developed over many years to cater for increasing demand for good quality, inexpensive foodstuffs. As the swell in the population of Scotland and the consequential increase in demand for food forced farmers to improve technological conditions in their farms in the nineteenth century, such pressures have also forced present day owners of agricultural land and livestock to improve their methods to increase production. However, the pressures prevalent today are concerned mainly with availability of inexpensive products. Farmers have developed many new processes by which they rear livestock. For example, methods used in dairy farming have allowed for a large increase in productivity. This combined with selective breeding, aimed towards enhancing the milk producing capabilities of the dairy cow, has enabled farmers to gain greater returns from their animals. However, these methods have also been questionable with regard to animal welfare. Most
Only Humans Have Souls. DiscussMost definitions state that a soul is the spiritual essence of a human being
Only Humans Have Souls. Discuss Most definitions state that a soul is the spiritual essence of a human being. There are some religions - especially those trusting in reincarnation - that believe animals may also possess a soul. Believing that animals - especially beloved pets - have souls can be comforting. By examining the possibilities, we can determine what to believe. The religions arguments for and against animals having souls are based on writings and traditions and allow little room for discussion. The Hindu religion accepts reincarnation, with animals being part of the progression of the soul. Often followers will not even step on an ant in fear of harming the reincarnation of some human. Many American Indian tribes also believed that animals possessed spirits. They also seemed to personify non-living things and some say that even mountains or such have souls. Although there are no direct statements that animals do not have souls in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts, there seem to be implications that only humans have souls. An extension of the argument caused the Christian Catholic Church to state that the Earth was also the centre of the Universe and that everything revolved around the planet. If you are not dogmatic in your religion, you can use a logical argument to define your belief. If you consider how a dog, a cat, or other animal
Helping The RSPCA Investigate Circuses.
Helping The RSPCA Investigate Circuses Through-out history a barbaric display of entertainment has been recorded. The victims ranging from captured wild animals to domestically bred animals. Species ranging from Elephants to Horses, Lions to Tigers, Dogs to Llamas, Sea Lions to Hippopotomus, Chimpanzees to Bears, Giraffes to Zebras, Ponies to Camels and many other rare and exotic species. Circuses have clowns, tents, acrobats, trapeze artists, highwire acts, weird acts, and ringmasters. Some still have animal acts - moreso, on mainland Europe and America. Animals in circuses have to perform tricks which are not natural in occurance. The animals have to do these as their lives depend on it. Even when they perform these tricks - their health deteriorates massively. Animals are made to perform inside makeshift tents and rooms which are highly inadequate for their daily behaviour. The ring masters and performers use a combination of treats, brute force, and instruments of torture to encourage the animals to perform. Zoological parks used to be there to entertain people. Now they have moved on to become an area of conservation and education. So, why are animal circuses still here? Their sole purpose is to entertain. The RSPCA has no power to act. Local vets cannot inspect them. The Police are not allowed to investigate them. In Europe animal circuses are still
Evolution Essay
Evolution Essay We act like animals, we eat like animals, and we are animals. The many theories of evolution such as Darwin's theory of evolution prove to us that we choose to believe that we are not animals when we really are. Evolution is the sequencial process of change over periods of time, which shapes and establishes the formation of modern man. In referring to evolution, the word means various changes. Evolution refers to the fabrication and development of life on earth. "Organic evolution" is the concept that all living beings evolved from simple organisms and have changed throughout the periods of time to create many and various types of species. Organic evolution is better known as the "theory of evolution." There are three main theories of evolution, which are, the early theories proposed by Comte de Buffon, Baron Cuvier, and Lamarck, the synthetic theory, and the Darwin theory. In the 1700s, French naturalists, Comte de Buffon and Baron Cuvier concluded with the studies of fossils and comparative anatomy that life on earth had endured many changes through a long period of time. In the early 1800s, another French naturalist named Lamark, proposed the first complete theory of evolution. He observed through is observations, depending on the extent to which the use of the structure, that an animal's body structure is able to change during its life span. He also
Define Species.
IB Biology SL II Ryan Martucci Topic: 4 - Ecology and Evolution Date: 5-24-02 Period: 4th Sub-topic: 4.4 - Classification 4.4.1 1 Define Species. A species is a particular kind of organism; members possess similar anatomical characteristics and have the ability to interbreed. 4.4.2 2 Describe the value of classifying organisms. This refers to natural classification. Include how the organization of data assists in identifying organism, show evolutionary links, and enables prediction of characteristics shared by members of a group. Taxonomy uses organisms and groups them according to similarities for natural classification including internal and external make-up, evolutionary relationships, and phylogeny. The reason why classifying organisms is so important is first of all gets rid of the chaos and confusion because it is human nature to be orderly and be able to organize things for ways to deal with things. Another reason is so that a person could see and understand evolutionary relationships between organisms. Also classifying is valuable because of the predictive value because several members of group have things in common so it would common to them all. Lastly it is important to classify organisms for species identification because it gives a universal name to an animal or plant and everyone in the world knows that