Do you accept the dissection of animals in science?

[badcrumbs]

I dissected things in both high school Zoology and College Biology, and it was a great learning experience. At first I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it, but once you get started it's not so much "gross" as it is just interesting. Getting hands-on like that helped me put the coursework into context and really understand it better.

I'm all for it in a professional learning environment.

 

[oranje]

I think it's fine as long as it's for scientific purposes and students learn something from it. I hope eventually there will be alternatives in the future but for now, dissecting animals is the best we've got. Plus, I'd find it hypocritical if someone is against lab animals and dissecting animals if they eat meat, since the meat industry can be pretty cruel. With lab animals, they try to find ways to reduce their suffering.

 

[baileyanne94]

It is sad to think that there animals farmed for the purpose of dissection. Not as sad for things like frogs, rats, chickens, etc., but I know cats and stuff have to be as well, too.
I did the normal dissections that everyone does (like the frog), but my senior year of highschool I took anatomy, and we dissected a variety of things; frogs, chicken wings, cow eyes, sheep hearts, rats (some of the rats my classmates dissected would be pregnant, so there would be tiny baby rats inside, sorta cool!), pig fetuses (that one was a little sad because it looked like a baby pig haha...).
It is kinda fascinating to see and learn about the insides of another creature.
I know vet academy students and up have to do the stuff like cats. No thanks. Never, would I ever. I just couldn't. (Well being a vet is sorta back up career idea for me so who knows, but it'd be awful either way)

But, think about it. Because those animals were dissected, veterinarians are able to learn how to help other animals. Because those animals were used to teach them, they can now help your pets if they get injured or sick. I think that makes up for everything, because animals are so precious, and there are humans who have been sorta dissected themselves (in the past when they were discovering how to treat wounds and ailments, they probably do now as well), and because of their generosity, doctors can also better help us. It's important, otherwise we and our pets wouldn't have anyone to turn to if we were injured or sick!

 

[Geoni]

If you're going on to be a veterinarian or a surgeon you're going to want to know what an animal's insides look like and be able to identify them before you can fix what's potentially killing them. The same goes with humans and hospital surgeons.

But most of the organisms you dissect in a biology form and function class or a zoology class comes from a facility that breeds and kills them primarily for the sake of dissecting them, sorry to tell you.

 

[tobi!]

It is sad to think that there animals farmed for the purpose of dissection. Not as sad for things like frogs, rats, chickens, etc., but I know cats and stuff have to be as well, too.
I did the normal dissections that everyone does (like the frog), but my senior year of highschool I took anatomy, and we dissected a variety of things; frogs, chicken wings, cow eyes, sheep hearts, rats (some of the rats my classmates dissected would be pregnant, so there would be tiny baby rats inside, sorta cool!), pig fetuses (that one was a little sad because it looked like a baby pig haha...).
It is kinda fascinating to see and learn about the insides of another creature.
I know vet academy students and up have to do the stuff like cats. No thanks. Never, would I ever. I just couldn't. (Well being a vet is sorta back up career idea for me so who knows, but it'd be awful either way)

But, think about it. Because those animals were dissected, veterinarians are able to learn how to help other animals. Because those animals were used to teach them, they can now help your pets if they get injured or sick. I think that makes up for everything, because animals are so precious, and there are humans who have been sorta dissected themselves (in the past when they were discovering how to treat wounds and ailments, they probably do now as well), and because of their generosity, doctors can also better help us. It's important, otherwise we and our pets wouldn't have anyone to turn to if we were injured or sick!

The pregnant pigs and rats have actually died from natural causes. Therefore, the "babies" had died naturally as well. They were not knocked up then killed because they were pregnant. Many animals that are dissected have died naturally either from old age, disease, etc.
However, I do admit, you will find cases where the animal was killed...but not for the purpose of dissection. Sometimes hunters or others will shoot, let's say, a bear. If it is illegal, the animal will be donated to science usually.

- - - Post Merge - - -

If you're going on to be a veterinarian or a surgeon you're going to want to know what an animal's insides look like and be able to identify them before you can fix what's potentially killing them. The same goes with humans and hospital surgeons.

But most of the organisms you dissect in a biology form and function class or a zoology class comes from a facility that breeds and kills them primarily for the sake of dissecting them, sorry to tell you.

That's not true as I've stated before. Most animals are not killed for the purpose of dissection. They may be "runts", diseased, or have died from old age.

 

[HeyPatience]

In Elementary school we did the owl pellets which wasnt bad at all. It was a lot of fun, and I didnt mind that one. When we had to dissect a frog in high school I really didnt like that. I asked the teacher for an alternative assignment because I felt so uncomfortable, and she said I either did the dissection or I would receive a 0 :/

 

[matt]

Its good. All good. The heart and liver stuff is epic

 

[tobi!]

In Elementary school we did the owl pellets which wasnt bad at all. It was a lot of fun, and I didnt mind that one. When we had to dissect a frog in high school I really didnt like that. I asked the teacher for an alternative assignment because I felt so uncomfortable, and she said I either did the dissection or I would receive a 0 :/

That kinda happened to my friend but it was because she was allergic to latex. The teacher gave her a 50%.

 

[ellabella12345]

I don't mind, but only if it died naturally. If they killed it to be able to do this then yes, I think that is wrong.

 

[doveling]

i find it ok if the animal came from a safe source, and i guess it does help you understand and learn better
i've so far only dissected a sheep heart

 

[Shimmer]

We had to dissect pig fetuses. It was pretty gross. The worst part was the smell of the chemical they used. BLEH. I could smell that all day through my nose. ._.

I think it's okay as long as the animal is already dead. It's being used for teaching purposes and it's something that people couldn't really learn through a book.

 

[Yuki Nagato]

Depends how the animal died.

 

[Nyxia]

Yes.
It should be common sense that education is more important.

 

[Elise]

Do they really 'force' high school students to do it though? You just said yourself that you left the room, so surely you weren't forced. Why should people's squeamishness mean that other kids who want to do dissection can't do it in school? Get over it, other people enjoy it and it might inspire them to do something like that at university.

Not all schools do but I imagine some might dock marks if some students don't want to do it, which I'm against. I didn't say that I don't think other students should be able to, just that the ones who don't want to should be able to opt out with no negative impact on their grades. Oh and some people can't just "get over it". That's a pretty insensitive thing to say to be honest...

 

[Geneve]

I've dissected a squid once, and honestly, it was fascinating. But I don't like dissections all too much. Especially on pet type animals, like puppies and kittens.

 

[Nyxia]

Not all schools do but I imagine some might dock marks if some students don't want to do it, which I'm against. I didn't say that I don't think other students should be able to, just that the ones who don't want to should be able to opt out with no negative impact on their grades. Oh and some people can't just "get over it". That's a pretty insensitive thing to say to be honest...

To be honest, it seems a little silly to think that it would impact their marks? We certainly don't do this in the UK, unless wherever you live marks their students on enthusiasm instead of papers and dissertations?
This is a very minor obstacle that a student will have to face. It's only one practical.
It is insinuated that you are one of the students that does not accept dissecting animals and therefor why you feel Annachie is being insensitive. Whereas the majority of those on the thread feel she is making a very valid point..

 

[Mango]

no ew

im a vegetarian so thats disgusting and idgaf what you're going to say
you wont change my mind

 

[honeymoo]

ye, biology teachers drive out to a field, kill a cow, and tear out its heart. thats how they get their pieces for dissection

I knew it!

 

[HeyPatience]

That kinda happened to my friend but it was because she was allergic to latex. The teacher gave her a 50%.

Are you serious? Thats so unfair! D:

A friend of mine is allergic as well, but she had a different teacher that was kind enough to give her something different to do. Some teachers are not very understanding :X

 

[tobi!]

Are you serious? Thats so unfair! D:

A friend of mine is allergic as well, but she had a different teacher that was kind enough to give her something different to do. Some teachers are not very understanding :X

Yeah she got fired for um stuff