Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 23, 1992 TAG: 9202240202
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: D-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
DON'T GO BACK TO MEDIEVAL SCIENCE
I APPLAUD W.E. Beal for being concerned about the state of science education today (Feb. 4 commentary, "Want scientific breakthroughs? Start by dissecting a few frogs"). However, Beal is barking (or should I say croaking?) up the wrong tree.By advocating dissection and animal experimentation to "support science education," Beal is also advocating a return to medieval science. The problem is not, as Beal sees it, that we don't care enough about science anymore to cut up a few frogs. Rather, the problem is our scientific system.
There are no national or global data bases available through which scientists share information, so research is repeated frequently.
Also, science today revolves around a "publish or perish" mentality, and the researcher who does not continually publish loses his or her seat on the gravy train - grant money goes to those who write, whether or not their research is valid for human health and well-being.
Today, scientists and physicians worldwide understand that animals are not the best models to study human illness. Happily, we are at the point where more and more studies are being done using cell or bacterial cultures, mathematical models, clinical case studies, epidemiological studies and, yes, computer models.
Let's not repeat mistakes by holding on to outdated techniques simply because they're familiar. Remember thalidomide and DES? They were both tested on animals, yet caused great tragedy for the humans who had the misfortune to use them. Animal research even proved that cigarettes don't cause cancer. Imagine how much further we would all be if we would devote as much money to preventive care.
Many breakthroughs attributed to animal experimentation were first discovered by clinical observations of people. Unfortunately, thinking such as Beal's is the quickest way to "give up on science." Because not only will we be turning our backs on the future, we will be repeating the mistakes of the past. MARY CLIFFORD ROANOKE