It was disappointing to see Professors Millar and Savill defend the continued use of primates in experiments (Research using non-human primates, Letters, November 13).
It was disappointing to see Professors Millar and Savill defend the continued use of primates in experiments (Research using non-human primates, Letters, November 13).
The scientific community is itself increasingly questioning the validity of using animals in experiments. In fact, many progressive scientists believe that such techniques are acting as a hindrance to the progress of science.
All animal species are different, and findings from experiments on one species cannot reliably be extrapolated to another. In fact, trying to do so can be misleading or dangerous. The future of medical research relies in cutting-edge non-animal techniques that are directly relevant for humans.
David Martin MEP is to be congratulated on his enlightened views on ending the use of primates, our closest living relatives, in experiments. It is a view which most of the public shares.
Ross Minett, Campaigns Director, Advocates for Animals, 10 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh.
Professors Millar and Savill believe there is a need to research infertility in monkeys. Professor Chris Barratt and Dr Ian Brewis at Birmingham Women's Hospital study human infertility using human testicular tissue, obtained from biopsies. They are demonstrating that human research is the way forward.
They observe: "In the field of reproductive medicine there is still an overwhelming obsession with performing research in animals We believe very strongly that this is totally unjustifiable and unwarranted as there is now good evidence that there are marked differences at the cellular, molecular, tissue and whole organism level between humans and animals We are pleased to report that researchers of international recognition are now discussing the limitations of animal work and the benefits of human research."
It is time Edinburgh University caught up.
Kathy Archibald, Director, Safer Medicines Campaign, PO Box 62720, London.
