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The use of animals in research, teaching and testing is an important ethical and political issue. Much of the discussion about this issue revolves around the relative value, often referred to as 'moral value', of humans and animals.

Over the past twenty years or so, there has been a ‘revolution’ in the life sciences,and our knowledge and capabilities have dramatically increased. At the same time, these advances have raised very important ethical concerns in both the scientific community and with the public at large.

A special report can be found on this page titled: Utility and Morality:Contemporary Tradeoffs. Within this report there is an article by Bernard E. Rollin titled The Moral Status of Invasive Animal Research.

The Academy is working to address all aspects of animals in research, from engaging in debate about how to regulate the use of animals in research, to efforts to improve the openness of organisations that are involved in animal research.

The Biosciences Federation Animal Science Group was established in December 2002 and launched in September 2003 as an umbrella organisation to promote interaction within the biosciences community, particularly in areas of research and teaching; to provide information to assist the formulation of scientific policy; and, perhaps most challenging of all, to debate the ethical issues surrounding recent advances in the biosciences (see previous report by Nancy Rothwell).

The issues addressed in this Report have been a subject of intense public debate over at least the past four hundred years. Feelings are strong on all sides of the issues, and in recent years reports of violent action against those conducting animal research in the UK have brought the matter to the forefront of public attention.

The booklet is aimed at anyone working with or caring for GA animals, those responsible for recording or maintaining records of GA animals, and/or those involved in the import, export or transport of GA animals. 

This page provides access to searchable, hypertext listings of inbred strains of mice and inbred strains of rats. Both sets of information were provided by Dr. Michael FW Festing (MRC Toxicology Unit) and were converted for Web presentation by the Mouse Genome Informatics Group at The Jackson Laboratory.

In 2006, the Transgenic Training Working Group (TTWG) was formed to identify and provide specific training for carers and users of genetically altered animals.