![]() ![]() Information about dissection alternatives (commercial, online, free loan programs, etc).What students can do to make their school dissection-free.In addition, The National Science Teachers Association recently amended its official position statement on animal use, approving the use of non-animal alternatives as replacements for dissection.ĭissection Alternatives sponsors the Cut Above Awards, which honors teachers and students who have taken great leaps to adopt humane alternatives to dissection.ĭissection Alternatives provides information about the following: I was also surprised to learn that the majority of medical schools often use these alternatives rather than traditional animal dissection. Computer software can now provide detailed, sophisticated graphics, interactive features, videos, and in-depth accompanying text to help students learn about anatomy. ![]() I was surprised to learn that research has shown that animal-friendly alternatives to teaching students about anatomy and biology are just as effective as the traditional methods of dissection. I discovered a site called Dissection Alternatives (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) that explores these issues and offers lots of practical solutions. Do students have a choice? Are there alternative ways for students to learn about anatomy that don’t harm animals? Each student had his/her own animal to dissect.īut with the rise of animals rights groups, PETA being the most visible, I wondered if times had changed. In both junior high and high school, I dissected a fetal pig. When I was a student, I didn’t have a choice. He brought up an interesting issue: Would he be required to dissect an animal even if it is against his beliefs? Are alternatives provided for these students? ![]() This past weekend, Tim returned to college, where he is thinking of minoring in biology. when Elliott frees all frogs in his science class? Elliott reminds me of my younger son Tim, who probably would have done the same thing (without being inebriated)! With plans to phase out the use of real frogs over the next couple of years, Durkin said the program will enable students to spend more time on dissection outside of class.Note: this is a rerun of last year’s frog dissection post, updated with new information. Wheeling Park's Durkin said it wasn't saving cash or sparing the lives of animals that appealed to him. Today, eight of 154 accredited medical schools still do. In 1982, 107 of 124 medical schools across the country used real animals to teach anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and surgery. Pippin said the move away from dissecting real animals mirrors what's been happening on college campuses over the past 25 years. John Pippin, senior medical and research adviser for the nonprofit group that promotes alternatives to animal research. The committee has brokered similar deals for school systems in New York and California, said Dr. Goth and Grindley worked through the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine, which negotiated with Digital Frog International in Ontario, Canada, for the SPCA to buy the software at a reduced price of about $500. founders Richard Hill and David Hughes, and V-Frog, developed by Tactus Technologies. In addition to The Digital Frog, schools have plenty of software to choose from, including Froguts, developed by Froguts Inc. Wheeling Park spends about $1,000 a year on frogs alone, he said.īy comparison, digital dissection software can be purchased for less than $1,500 from numerous companies. With a single pig costing upward of $25 and a frog around $6, the program has the potential to save the school some money, though not a lot. Before, about 150 students studied biology each year. Patrick Durkin, science department chair at Wheeling Park High School, said the number of students enrolled in biology will increase to about 400 this fall. But now that biology is a required class in West Virginia, virtual dissection is becoming an attractive option to some educators there. West Virginia is not one of the opt-out states for dissections. "Its like trying to become a gardener without touching the dirt.'' "To actually cut through the tissue, see how the skin layers feel, the textures, the way the organs look inside the body, I think that can't be duplicated. "It's not the same as the real thing,'' Perillo said.
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