DESPITE a post-election pledge by the coalition Government to reduce animal experiments, new official figures show that the total has again risen. The Home Office points out that the dramatic increase is due to more GM mice being used, but genetically-altering mice does not make them unfeeling, disposable lab tools.
In fact, Animal Aid’s recent report, Science Corrupted (available at animalaid.org.uk), found that GM mice suffer terribly. The genetic modification process itself involves painful procedures. The intention of genetic tinkering is to induce in the mice cancer, heart failure, dementia and other diseases but the results fall well short on scientific grounds by being poor equivalents of the human conditions. In addition to the suffering caused by the deliberately induced afflictions, some mice face further torments such as being poisoned, injected with acid, or given electric shocks.
And all for what?
Researchers must abandon archaic animal tests and adopt progressive, human-based science instead.
CLAUDIA TARRY, campaigner, Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Tonbridge, Kent
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel