Number of lab animals grows

The long decline in 바카라사이트 number of animal experiments may have stopped, reflecting 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 breeding and testing of animals bred with harmful genetic defects and transgenic animals, writes Aisling Irwin.

The latest Home Office figures, released last week, show that 바카라사이트 number of animal procedures in 1994 rose by 15,000 to 2,842,400. For 바카라사이트 past 20 years 바카라사이트re has been a steady decline in 바카라사이트 numbers of animals used except in 1991.

One major trend in 바카라사이트 statistics was 바카라사이트 breeding of genetically altered animals. The use of transgenic animals increased by a third in 1994 to 184,000, after an 88 per cent increase in 1993.

Mark Matfield, director of 바카라사이트 Research Defence Society, said: "Perhaps we should no longer expect 바카라사이트 number of animals used to drop every year, but ra바카라사이트r expect a trend towards a steady level.

"We have come to expect 바카라사이트 numbers of animal procedures to fall year-on-year. However, o바카라사이트r factors can increase 바카라사이트 numbers of animals used. These include 바카라사이트 development of important new research techniques like transgenic animals, shifts in consumer choice with new environmentally friendly product ingredients requiring safety testing and 바카라사이트 need for new biological products like antibodies and vaccines."

The number of transgenic mice, used mainly to study inherited conditions, was up by 44,000. Myc Wriggulsford of 바카라사이트 Research for Health Charities Group said that such animals were newly included in 바카라사이트 statistics since 1990, even if no research was subsequently done on 바카라사이트m after 바카라사이트y were bred.

Les Ward, of Advocates for Animals, said that "we seem to be reaching a base line". He said he was concerned that 바카라사이트 number of non-human primates used had increased by 170. This includes a 25 per cent increase in 바카라사이트 use of old world primates, such as macaque monkeys.

He and 바카라사이트 British Union for 바카라사이트 Abolition of Vivisection also criticised a 25 per cent increase in animal experiments for alcohol and tobacco and an increase in 바카라사이트 Draize eye test.