Ethics and Biology

• What is the history of animal use in research?

  • used for 3000+ years, but first systematic use picked up in 1400s
  • Cruelty to Animals Act (1876)- first introduction of ethical guidelines
• What are the general principles of animal use in research?

  • only done if no other option
  • often for medicine- Diseases and Disorders (especially) of the Nervous System.
  • Specific Animals: Dogs, cats, horses, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, fish, reptiles, mice, rats
• How do we treat animals in research?

  • use minimum number possible
  • must be under anesthesia for any pain
  • should be well-homes and killed humanley is appropraite
• What are the benefits of animal research?

  medical advancements (pandemics, nervous systems), psychological adnvancements (brain systems, treating disorders), transplants
• How are humans used in biological research?

  • use minimum number needed
  • under anesthesia
  • no long term damage and informed consent
• What are ethical hurdles using huans in biological research?

  • Often done before birth or in early years, potentially unforeseen long-term consequences
  • potential harm and lack of informed consent
• How can we practice good ethics?

  Keep a Dialogue, Stay Transparent, Be Kind
• What was the Los Alamos Plutonium Experiments?

  Between 1945 – 1947, 18 people were unknowingly injected with plutonium during unrelated GP visits
• What was the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment?

  1932-1972, Individuals infected with Syphilis, Lied to about treatment (given placebos)
• What are HeLa cells?

  HeLa unknowingly had “immortal” cells harvested and circulated, regarded as a standing historical wrong by many authors