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Printer-Friendly ModeSVSU project sparks fury from animal rights group
March 22, 2010 —
A student’s scientific research has members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — commonly known as PETA — calling on SVSU to put an end to what they say is cruel and unnecessary animal experimentation.
In January, the University’s Student Research and Creativity Institute awarded $9,614 to biochemistry freshman Tyler Beyett for use in his study on the effects a chemical commonly found in plastic water bottles may have on mammal reproduction.
The study involves mating a sample of 20 to 25 genetically engineered rats, some of which will receive daily injections of dioxins that are prevalent in human and wildlife environments. As the population ages, Beyett and his sponsor, biology professor Gary Lange, will examine how the exposures may have influenced developments in the brain.
“It’s a very crucial and cutting edge area of research,” Lange said.
PETA representatives disagree. The experiments, they say, are cruel and unnecessarily duplicate previous studies in addition to ignoring the availability of valid, non-animal testing methods.
“It appears the oversight committee did not do a thorough job in reviewing this proposal at all,” said Kathy Guillermo, PETA’s vice president of laboratory investigations.
In a letter to the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, PETA research associate Julian Carr urges the committee to revoke its approval of Beyett’s study based on these claims.
Carr cites previous scientific studies on the reproductive effects of DINP — the plastic additive under review — which she says indicate that normal exposure levels do not adversely affect humans, including reproduction and fetal development.
Lange and Beyett maintain that their research question is vastly different, despite some similarities in experimentation. They seek to understand hormone shifts caused by DINP that can potentially alter factors during prenatal development such as sexual orientation, sex behavior, and the development of male and female characteristics.
Another focus is the effects the chemical can have on sperm competition — a natural process that, if altered, could influence the male to female ratio or the passing of recessive traits and health conditions through populations.
The partners say the project reaches far beyond previous studies that only determine an animal’s ability to survive and reproduce.
Rats and mice, Lange said, are still the standard of excellence in nearly every kind of biomedical research involving animals. They are widely used in university research.
“I didn’t see how virtual testing methods would be possible with this type of research,” Beyett said. “We had to examine all available options, and similar studies overwhelmingly used rats.”
Lange believes PETA is challenging SVSU because of its relatively small number of students and faulty engaged in research involving animal testing compared to larger universities.
“If they can cause enough harassment and aggravation, they could potentially claim a victory in terms of getting rid of research on our campus,” he said. “They have a political agenda that will meet their needs nicely by picking on us.”
Carr’s letter indicates that a concerned SVSU student alerted PETA to the experiments.
PETA remains ethically opposed to the use of any animals in experiments.
“I can’t think of a case where I would ever think it [animal testing] was fine,” Guillermo said.
Beyett is continuing his preliminary research and expects to begin the experiment in the spring.
“I see a lot of potential in what we’re doing because I’ve done the background research,” he said. “I really think what we’re doing can help out in the long term.”
Lange said he wholeheartedly agrees.“Tyler’s project has enormous potential to be beneficial at all levels of science.”