Travel catches up!

I asked the question "Just because science allows us to perform an experiment or advancement in technology, are we obligated to follow and attempt that endeavor?"

Mainly with regards to animals being used for research, but this question can be applied to many other scientific advances as well, such as the Atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima which, after taking Nuclear Age, knowing about my family history and seeing the wreckage and exhibits first hand at the peace memorial in Hiroshima, I felt conflicted in what I knew about science, but that is a discussion for another blog and/or time.

In regards to animal research, I believe Singer brought up testing performed on rabbits to see if new shampoos would harm them. I believe this form of scientific research regarding animals falls under my question. I can understand that companies need to continually churn out new products or they will loose money, but I don't believe it is ethical, defensible, or even necessary to test new products on animals. From an chemistry perspective, if we know the compounds used within the shampoo and the approximate concentration, comparing that with known concentrations/ compounds, we should have our answer without harming more rabbits. Just be cause we can test new products on animals doesn't mean we should in that case.

Another experiment brought up by Singer and a few books I have read relates to deprivation of maternal care for animals. This relates to epigenetics, a new field that is still misunderstood, and I feel needs more looking into, not only for the sake of humans, but possibly for "rehabilitation" of test/ food product animals. If we understand how the environment can affect not only that particular animal, but methylation passed through genes, we can understand how to limit the harm to future generations through the environment. It's not like a chicken with a cut off beak will have offspring with cut off beaks, it's more like a piglet who was taken from the sow before age 1 would lack the constant tactile stimulation of her mother and therefore be less socially compatible  forgoing food, interaction, mating, and being agressive and stressed more easily.

I believe these epigenetic studies are necessary at this point, since we can perform basic behavioral experiments  I feel these should be done for the betterment of not only our species, but other species that, at this point, we use but may in the distant future, release back to the wild.

There are two extremes I have just listed, One where it is absolutely not necessary except to visually express the pain that can be seen by animals (or not seen if they are blinded.... bad joke), and one where it can be beneficial in the long run not only to humans but to the animals we interact with.

An artist's concept of epigentic modification that I quite like

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome