Is the use of sentient animals in basic research justifiable?

Abstract

Animals can be used in many ways in science and scientific research. Given that society values sentient animals and that basic research is not goal oriented, the question is raised: "Is the use of sentient animals in basic research justifiable?" We explore this in the context of funding issues, outcomes from basic research, and the position of society as a whole on using sentient animals in research that is not goal oriented. We conclude that the use of sentient animals in basic research cannot be justified in light of society's priorities.

A Discussion of the Role of Complex Evolved Systems in the Development of Invasive Cardiovascular Interventions as Illustrated by the Blalock- Taussig Shunt and Intra-Arterial Stents

“…Some even claim that basic research that employs animals is predictive for humans, although such a claim is the antithesis of basic research [67]. Andrew B. Rudczynski, Yale University's associate vice president for research administration, stated: "Contrary to claims in a letter to the editor, the basic research model used by Yale University and its peer institutions is scientifically valid and predictive of human disease" [68]; emphasis added).…”

“…I have addressed the problems with using one CAS to model another for perturbations that affect higher levels of organization and refer the reader to the following references for more on this particular aspect of CASs: [67,[105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118]]. …”

“…In light of the fact that animal models are subject to Complexity Theory and the Theory of Evolution, I have developed a theory regarding the problem of using one evolved CAS as a model in order to predict responses of a second: Trans-Species Modeling Theory (TSMT) [67,[105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][176][177][178]. TSMT can be summarized thusly: While transspecies extrapolation is possible when perturbations concern lower levels of organization or when studying morphology and function on the gross level, one evolved complex system will not be of predictive value for another when the perturbation affects higher levels of organization" [116].…”

Meditación sobre la compleja relación entre medicina y animales: un responsopara un gato fiel

“…Además, grupos ciudadanos y de profesionales sorprendidos por la crueldad y la demostrada inutilidad de algunos de estos experimentos y la negativa de un importante número de investigadores a reconocerlo, radicalizaron sus demandas para limitar drásticamente la experimentación biomédica con animales [14][15][16][17] . Estos perjudiciales procesos afortunadamente han evolucionado en los últimos años de una manera positiva y ha habido un reconocimiento por parte de la comunidad científica que deben existir limitaciones bioéticas a la experimentación con animales y los grupos ciudadanos han comenzado a reconocer que en algunas circunstancias la experimentación con animales pareciera ser una necesidad para el progreso de la medicina 12,18 .…”

“…Esto porque la manera en que humanos y ratones reaccionan frente a las noxas que desencadenan el shock séptico son totalmente diferentes, generando el modelo animal con ratones, información que es irrelevante al problema humano [32][33][34] . Resultados como éstos y la escasa aplicabilidad reciente de la investigación básica con animales a la solución directa de problemas clínicos, ha hecho que se levanten voces en la comunidad científica diciendo que los experimentos con animales debieran ser drásticamente limitados [15][16][17][18]35,36 .…”