Animal experiments in research: necessary or irresponsible?

Animal experiments in research: necessary or irresponsible?

A mouse maki in Madagascar wears a transmitter to telemetry to capture the animal's movement behavior. This innovative method is part of the research work by Professors Helene Richter and Melanie Dammhahn from the University of Münster, which pronounced a differentiated view of animal experiments. They emphasize that many scientists are faced with problems that arise from strict legal requirements and longer approval procedures.

animal experiments are particularly important in behavioral biology and animal welfare research. Often the term “animal experiment” is only associated with biomedical research, while other research areas are also affected. This includes critical findings on the behavior of animals that can only be obtained under controlled conditions in laboratory tests or under ecologically relevant framework conditions when attempting to open.

challenges and legal framework conditions

The discussion about animal experiments in Germany is characterized by the complexity of legal framework. According to the German Animal Welfare Act, animal experiments are considered interventions that can be associated with pain or suffering. It is therefore important that the number of animals used and the extent of their load are limited to the necessary minimum. Every year over 3 million animals in Germany are used for research purposes, as Tierschutzgesetz.net reports.

The Paragraph 7a of the Animal Welfare Act defines the requirements for animal experiments and is the aim of maintaining animal welfare and minimizing suffering. Animal experiments are only permitted if they are essential and there are no alternatives. In addition, all researchers must clearly justify the need for animal experiments and comply with strict requirements. An animal protection officer must also be ordered to monitor compliance with these regulations.

demands for reforms

The two professors from the University of Münster criticize an unreflected discussion about the replacement of animal experiments. One -sided demands for the maximum reduction of the animals used could weaken the scientific meaning of the results. Proposals include differentiated approval processes that enable direct clarification of questions between the parties involved.

The coordination commission for animal experimental research at the University of Münster, which was founded in 2013, plays an important role in the factual discussion about animal experiments. The use of alternative methods, such as in-vitro studies and computer-aided models, is also promoted to reduce the stress on animals. These alternative approaches make it possible to virtually analyze biological processes and thus offer a valuable opportunity to reduce animal experiments in research.

The topic of animal experiments remains controversial, but both the scientific and ethical requirements must be put in the foreground. Violations of the Animal Welfare Act have legal consequences, including fines or even prison terms, which underlines the seriousness of the legal regulations. The University of Münster carries out animal experiments with mice, rats, guinea pigs and zebrafischen to gain important knowledge from behavioral research.

The upcoming publication of the study by Richter et al. (2024) is expected to offer new perspectives on animal experiments in behavioral research and could help to further promote the discussion. The challenge is to find the balance between the necessary research and the protection of animals, while scientific progress can be made.