Scientists take on activists, want ban on live testing on animals lifted

NEW DELHI: The right to life of laboratory animals has become a point of contention between scientists and animal rights activists. Recent guidelines issued by University Grants Commission (UGC) banning the age-old practice of using lab animals for research has not gone down well with scientists from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Indian National Science Academy (INSA) has compiled a report on the views of scientists and animal rights activists on the matter. The report will be submitted to the ministry of environment and forests (MOEF) next month.

Scientists feel a complete ban on the usage of animals in labs and universities could have a detrimental effect on students' understanding of the subject. K Muralidhar, professor, department of zoology and hormone research laboratory, DU, said that last July, the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh had floated a draft bill on the use animals for teaching and research. "The secret copies of the draft bill were circulated among various ministries, including the health ministry. When we got to know about the contents of the draft, we thought it would have serious repercussions on life sciences courses, so we asked for a discussion," he said. A discussion was organized by INSA in September 2011 where scientists, doctors and activists from various institutions presented their views. "We will release a compilation next month. The ministry should take a decision after hearing all stakeholders," Muralidhar said. "I feel UGC's guidelines are a result of misplaced emotions," he said.

Muralidhar, who claimed to be an animal lover himself, felt there was a lot of room to reduce the use of animals in universities. "Animals have to be used for teaching basic biology and are needed as models for health research. However, they can be handled in a humane way and their usage can be reduced. But students need to learn to handle animals at least once, to get hands-on experience," he added.

While PETA activists have suggested computer simulations and mannequins as alternatives for dissection, scientists say that nothing can replace practical knowledge. A cancer biologist and professor at School of Life Sciences (SLS), JNU Rana P Singh said, "Working with a live animal is very different. At least, at the masters level students should be exposed to the practice. When they go on to pursue M Phil or Phd, they will have some idea of anatomy," he said.

Professor of zoology and director of Delhi University (South Campus), Umesh Rai seems to agree. "Research cannot be compromised. How can one experiment without animals? Animals are needed even for chemical sciences research. However, their usage can be minimized," Rai said.

Though scientists may have slammed the move, animal lovers have welcomed it with open arms. "If universities in UK and US can do with out animals, why not us? We held a number of demonstrations in medical colleges and universities, including AIIMS on computer-aided learning methods. These can be used by pharmacology and physiology students easily. Research or experiments can be done through in-vitro methods instead of in-vivo methods which require use of an animal. India is the first country to issue such guidelines and we should be proud of it," said Science Policy Advisor, PETA India, Chaitanya Koduri. Peta has submitted a dossier of alternative methods to the president of Medical Council of India (MCI).

"The guidelines are very progressive. We hope that similar rules are issued for toxicity testing of drugs on animals. Alternatives like cell culture, use of human cells and robotics can be used," said Alokparna Sengupta, coordinator, animal experimentation campaign, Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO).

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