Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

Author:      corey kepler
Text:        Is using frogs for dissection necessary?

Response #:  1 of 1
Author:      moodywj
Text:        On the moral question, I believe that some dissection is 
necessary in the reaching of biology.  The history of human understanding of 
the body and its diseases illustrates this:  the ability to treat disease 
became much better after we began looking at the structure of our own bodies 
and those of animals.  The same hold for teaching:  you really need to see the 
actual structures to begin to understand how they work.  Do we do too much of 
it?  I am not sure.  But specifically about frogs, I am concerned that too 
many are being used.  Many species are becoming threatened around the world by 
the destruction of their habitats.  The main threat in the US is the 
development of shopping malls and the like in outlying rural areas, especially 
in the Midwest.  I think it is better to use species that can be bred in 
captivity and that are not endangered, such as rats, for teaching purposes.