Animals in Education
Dissection: A Brief Description
What is Dissection?
Dissection is the observing or cutting into
a dead animal for the purposes of learning anatomy or physiology.
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Brief History of Dissection
It is unclear when dissection itself started,
but sources report as early as the late 1800s dissection was common
in US colleges. In the 1960s, the Biological Science Curriculum
Study, under the direction of the National Science Foundation, resolved
to institute the hands-on study of animals in education. Dissection
quickly became the mainstay of biology education.
It wasn't until the 1980s that dissection was formally challenged.
In 1987 Jennifer Graham, a high school student, sued her school
for not allowing her an alternative to traditional dissection. Nine
months later California became the first state to protect a student's
right to conscientious objection. (From The Use of Animals
in Higher Education by Jonathan Balcombe and In
the Name of Science: Issues in Responsible Animal Experimentation
by F. Barbara Orlans)
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What animals
are dissected?
The variety of dissection specimens is astounding.
Animals included are frogs, pigs, rats, cats, snakes, turtles, starfish,
fish, crickets, earthworms, rabbits, sharks, minks, lizards, sheep,
cows, crayfish, clams, and scypha.
Methods
of procurement include harvesting from natural or artificial
habitats, slaughterhouses, purpose breeding, collection from Class
B Dealers, and from countries outside the U.S. Approximately three
million wild-caught frogs alone are harvested every year for dissection
purposes.
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Who dissects specimens?
Students of all ages participate in dissection
labs in general science, biology, or anatomy classes. Dissection
often begins in high school but can be introduced as early as sixth
grade. College students who participate in biology courses typically
encounter dissection labs. Dissection in medical school is often
performed on human cadavers.
Some veterinary schools' curricula contain dissection labs, but
progressive schools provide students with ethically-sourced cadavers
(for example, donated cadavers of animals who died of natural causes)
and do not require terminal surgery labs (although such labs may
still be offered as an elective in less progressive institutions).
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Why do students dissect?
Some teachers feel that dissection is a productive
tool for teaching anatomy. Others feel that students must undergo
a "rite of passage" to become prepared for medical or veterinary careers.
It is also true that old habits die hard, and dissection has been
a prominent educational tool since the 1960s.
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Why do students object
to dissection?
- Religious beliefs: Some religions do
not support the killing of certain types of animals or any animals
for unnecessary purposes.
- Moral/ethical beliefs: Many people feel
it is morally wrong to kill an animal for the purposes of dissection,
animal experimentation, or eating.
- Environmental
issues: Dissection's negative impact on the environment due
to toxic chemicals and degradation of natural resources prompts
many people to feel dissection is wrong.
- Animal
abuse: Animals used for dissection purposes are collected,
killed, and prepared in a manner that many people find abusive,
unacceptable, and totally unnecessary. Animal abuse at biological
supply companies has been documented by undercover investigations.
- Technology:
Because of the advances in technology (especially in the realms
of computers and video imaging) and the need to encourage students
to want to utilize this technology, many people feel that dissection
is outdated and obsolete.
- Respect for Life: Dissection teaches some children that humans
need not respect other forms of life on this planet. Many people
feel this can lead to desensitization, less compassion, and potentially
more violence.
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Updated November 2001
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