This week’s topic got me thinking about what art really is. From the video “Scientist? Artist. Pirate! Who is Joe Davis?” Joe Davis reads from the dictionary that “Art is a human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature” (youtube.com). In this regard I wanted to focus more on the discussion of animal use in different fields of biotechnology.
Scientists use rats in labs as disease models to experiment different medications on them. While it is unnatural and inhumane for rats to suffer the conditions they were bred in, people still benefit from the results of successful treatment that can be used on humans. We use the products that were tested on animals. There is a fine line between ethical aspects of such animal treatment and science that can help people to fight diseases. This question is very difficult , if not impossible, to answer. 
Rats at the lab
Joe Davis says that “the lab is a playground”, which I disagree with. If we take a look at what scientists have done to animals for entertainment we see that all those animals have zero chances to survive without human intervention. The glow fish that can be easily bought in any Petco, a glowing rabbit Alba, or even some dog breeds. Pugs are deliberately bred deformed. They suffer from a huge range of health problems, including breathing, eye, joint and neurological diseases. These dogs were created as cute cuddly companions for our pleasure and have to spend a miserable life of a sick animal not capable of enjoying its life fully.
As the narrator of Animal Biotechnology explained, people have concerns about animals used in agriculture, entertainment, sports or biomedical research (youtube.com). Even though we use animals as models for experiments, workforce, food, or as companions, we need to treat them nicely. I was glad to know that the transgenic rats, which were used in laboratories as breeders, retired to a loving home and have all the necessary care they deserve. On this note, I also wanted to mention that lab animals are not forgotten or disregarded. The monument to a lab mouse knitting DNA in its paws, which is located in the Russian science district in Novosibirsk, represents the important role that lab animals play in science and medicine. This is a great way to show gratitude to animals who live and work for our good.
Pug's skull
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| Monument to a lab mouse |
Sources:
NOVA PBS Official. “Scientist? Artist. Pirate! Who Is Joe Davis? - Youtube.” Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GkZt00Qics.
High, Kathy. “How Did Matilda, Tara and Star Barbie Become Transgenic Rats?” Embracing Animal :: All About Transgenic Rats, http://www.embracinganimal.com/transrats.html.
Kac, Eduardo. “GFP BUNNY.” RABBIT REMIX, http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor.
Welton, Michele. “Pug Health Problems: Feeding.” Pug Health Problems | Feeding, https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/pugs.html#health-problems.
Vesna, Victoria. “5 Bioart PT3 - Youtube.” UC Online, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g.
University of California Television. “Animal Biotechnology.” YouTube, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/index.
“Она - Мышь! - Изображение Памятник Лабораторной Мыши, Новосибирск.” Tripadvisor, https://www.tripadvisor.ru/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g298529-d6523089-i156619314-Monument_of_Laboratory_Mice-Novosibirsk_Novosibirsky_District_Novosibirs.html.
Balčiauskas, Mindaugas. “Guy Wants to Get a Purebred Pug, His Friend Tries to Prove Why It's Animal Cruelty with Skull Comparison.” Bored Panda, Bored Panda, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.boredpanda.com/friend-wants-cute-purebred-pug-sends-facts-skulls/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic.
Kershner, Kate. “Are Lab Rats Bred Just for the Lab?” HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 30 July 2020, https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/scientific-experiments/lab-rats-bred-for-lab.htm.
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