| Critics
of animal research have suggested that most, if not all, uses of animals
in research and education could be eliminated by the use of alternatives,
such as tissue culture or computer models. In 1986, the U.S. Congress
Office of Technology Assessment produced an extensive study of the use
of animal models and options for alternatives to animal use in research,
education and testing. The general conclusion of the report was
that the very nature of the research in many areas makes it highly unlikely
that reasonable alternatives to animal use will be developed. A
working definition of alternative techniques is “those techniques
which replace the actual use of animals, reduce the numbers used, and/or
refine the techniques to minimize the potential for the animal to experience
pain or distress.” |