The Lab Mouse Paradox
Despite significant advances in human-based research, millions of mice and rats are still used in U.S. laboratories each year—at immense ethical and scientific cost.
Reynard Loki, a writing fellow at the Independent Media Institute, notes that in the wild, a mouse or rat leads a precarious life, facing numerous dangers.
“The only good mouse is a dead mouse,”
as once declared by Australia’s deputy prime minister during a nationwide mouse plague.
In laboratories, the fate of these animals is often grim, with millions bred in cages each year for use in experiments.
Author's summary: Science still relies on animal testing despite its limitations.
- Millions of mice and rats are used in U.S. laboratories annually.
- Human-based research has made significant advances.
- Animal testing raises ethical and scientific concerns.