Animal Experimentation Ethical Standards

[jecht3009046]

I agree with Reach and Xptrip. The majority of invertebrates have such a small capacity for pain, that harmful experiences that we regularity encounter don't phase them in the least.

Both my parents are cancer researches, and my mom works exclusively with mice. I worked the past summer in her lab. In short, whenever noticeable amounts of pain are shown by the mice, they are put to sleep to adhere to animal ethics guidelines. Though that may be moral and just, it inhibits the scientist's ability to view the later effects of cancer and other harmful diseases, which ultimately leads to less knowledge and understanding of the disease. For vertebrates, the guidelines are strict and inhibiting, yet very moral, thus is hard to argue on either side. As for invertebrates, the guidelines are almost the same as vertebrates. The thing is, though, is that when an invertebrate feels such extensive pain (the most pain it could possibly feel), it is likely going to die within a short period of time and the pain is not all that great. The animal ethics guidelines are almost the guidelines of life for invertebrates, thus are unneeded.