GS - 5 NOV ‘10 – ANIMAL TESTINGAIMS:

‘C’ Grade – gain further knowledge of pros & cons of animal testing

‘B’ Grade – understand how to structure answers to questions in section ‘C’

‘A’ Grade – apply skills to be able to answer a range of questions in section ‘C’

What is Animal Testing? Animal testing is used to assess the

safety and effectiveness of drugs as well as understand how the human body functions.

It is also used for education and training. Animal testing is used for research,

typically in a laboratory environment.

Pairs task Draw up a set of ‘pros’ & ‘cons’ of

Animal Testing Analyse your own opinions – is your

personal stance on animal testing a rational one?

Arguments against? Practical:- Can be misleading Test tube

experiments just as good

Animal stress invalidates results

Have to test on humans eventually

• Moral:-• Animal rights• Cannot prevent

abuse• Animals die• Animals suffer

Arguments for? Practical:- Vaccines – rabies, polio, MMR,

TB Antibiotics, HIV drugs, insulin,

cancer treatments Lab animals do react usefully Development of surgical

techiques Test of organism, not just tissue DNA match to primates IT simulations not good enough

• Moral:-• Human life of greater

value• Legislation protects

lab animals• Why so different from

farming?• Few animals feel pain

prior to death.

Sample exam question... The development of new medicines

highlights disagreements about the scientific value of testing new drugs on animals. While many researchers argue that animal testing is unavoidable, there is a strongly held opposing view that animal testing is no longer necessary.

Assess the merits of these two views, including scientific evidence which might support them.

How question will be marked:- 3 assessment objectives:1. Demonstrate relevant knowledge and

understanding applied to a range of issues, using skills from different disciplines (8 marks)

2. Marshall evidence and draw conclusions: select, interpret, evaluate and integrate information, data, concepts and opinions

(8 marks)3. Communicate clearly and accurately in a

concise, logical and relevant way (4 marks)

Assessment Objective 1 - knowledge 1 mark each (up to 8)1. Some form of drug testing is necessary2. Medical knowledge is increased by drug testing3. Assumption of animals and humans reacting to drugs in

the same way (viz Northwick Park)4. Ethically unacceptable to use fellow humans for testing 5. Historical precedent for animal testing6. Public demand for medicines to be safe7. Animals have rights, as well as humans8. Strict controls on care of lab animals9. Emotive topic with extreme views (viz Huntingdon Life

Sciences)

Assess Obj 2 – relevant arguments 1 mark each (up to 8)1. Purpose of testing, eg.

- side effects- efficacy- indicate further research

2. Pros & Cons

Assess Obj 3 – Clarity Badly expressed, too many grammatical mistakes,

or too little written 0 marks Understandable only in parts. Some irrelevant or

inappropriate comment. Weak grammar1 mark

Generally understandable, reasonably written, grammar acceptable 2 marks

Broadly understandable, arguments coherent and relevant 3 marks

Clear & lucid, arguments coherent, well structured4 marks