Animal Welfare and Ethics Exam
Questions and Answers
What are the present uses of animals in research, testing and education? - Answer-• To understanding
human and animal biology (Structure, function and behaviour of animals, and the processes involved in
physiology, biochemistry and pathology)
• Maintenance and improvement of human
and/or animal health and welfare (E.g. development of vaccines/drugs, production of snake antivenin,
drug testing, animal models of human disease, house hold products, cosmetics, etc.)
• Improvement of animal management or production (E.g. evaluation of a calcium supplement for layer
hens)
• Achievement of educational objectives (E.g. animals used in veterinary schools, agricultural colleges or
schools to teach routine husbandry procedures)
• Environmental studies (Determine population levels and diversity, and radio tracking, capture,
measurement and release, collection of skin samples for genetic analysis etc.)
What are some of the animals commonly used for experimental purposes? - Answer-• Mice (BALB/c,
C57BL/6J, CB6F1, Athymic nude mice, and Knockout mice)
• Rats (Sprague Dawley rat, Wistar rat, and Hooded Wistat rat)
• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Guinea pigs
• Rabbits
, • Beagles
• Marmosets
• Macaques
• Great apes (gorilla, champanzee, baboon)
What are the arguments for the use of animals in experimentation? - Answer-• 'Speciesism' is morally
right
• Utilitarianism: Benefits (to humans) outweigh costs (to animals)
What are the arguments against the use of animals in experimentation? - Answer-• Animal suffering is
not worth the (alleged) benefits to humans
• Role of animal research exaggerated
- Ignores role of improvements in public health (diet, sanitation)
• Role of clinical research
• Animal experiments can be misleading
• Adverse effects of animal testing on human health immoral?
- Thalidomide
- Vioxx (COX-2 inhibitor)
- Paracetomol/cats; penicillin/guinea pigs
• Money better spent elsewhere?
- Preventative medicine, epidemiological studies
- Developing drug testing methods not involving animals
What are the main welfare issues of animals in laboratories? - Answer-• Housing and management
• Procedures conducted on the animals
• Animals used by large multi-national drug
Questions and Answers
What are the present uses of animals in research, testing and education? - Answer-• To understanding
human and animal biology (Structure, function and behaviour of animals, and the processes involved in
physiology, biochemistry and pathology)
• Maintenance and improvement of human
and/or animal health and welfare (E.g. development of vaccines/drugs, production of snake antivenin,
drug testing, animal models of human disease, house hold products, cosmetics, etc.)
• Improvement of animal management or production (E.g. evaluation of a calcium supplement for layer
hens)
• Achievement of educational objectives (E.g. animals used in veterinary schools, agricultural colleges or
schools to teach routine husbandry procedures)
• Environmental studies (Determine population levels and diversity, and radio tracking, capture,
measurement and release, collection of skin samples for genetic analysis etc.)
What are some of the animals commonly used for experimental purposes? - Answer-• Mice (BALB/c,
C57BL/6J, CB6F1, Athymic nude mice, and Knockout mice)
• Rats (Sprague Dawley rat, Wistar rat, and Hooded Wistat rat)
• Hamsters
• Gerbils
• Guinea pigs
• Rabbits
, • Beagles
• Marmosets
• Macaques
• Great apes (gorilla, champanzee, baboon)
What are the arguments for the use of animals in experimentation? - Answer-• 'Speciesism' is morally
right
• Utilitarianism: Benefits (to humans) outweigh costs (to animals)
What are the arguments against the use of animals in experimentation? - Answer-• Animal suffering is
not worth the (alleged) benefits to humans
• Role of animal research exaggerated
- Ignores role of improvements in public health (diet, sanitation)
• Role of clinical research
• Animal experiments can be misleading
• Adverse effects of animal testing on human health immoral?
- Thalidomide
- Vioxx (COX-2 inhibitor)
- Paracetomol/cats; penicillin/guinea pigs
• Money better spent elsewhere?
- Preventative medicine, epidemiological studies
- Developing drug testing methods not involving animals
What are the main welfare issues of animals in laboratories? - Answer-• Housing and management
• Procedures conducted on the animals
• Animals used by large multi-national drug
