In: Biology
This lab began with the story of Ham, a chimpanzee who was sent into space by NASA in the 1960s as part of early test flights for space travel. Since this time, we have gained a greater appreciation for how closely related we are to chimpanzees and how similar we are in behaviors and intelligences. With this knowledge in mind, do you think that chimpanzees should still be used in research of this type today? Why or why not? Do you think the same rules should apply to all primates (those that are less closely related to humans, such as monkeys, as well as those that are more closely related to humans, such as apes)? Why or why not? Do you think we should limit the use of nonhuman primates in research—for example, by using them only in lifesaving medical research? Why or why not? Visit the website of the American Society of Primatologists and explore its ethical guidelines (https://www.asp.org/society/resolutions/EthicalTreatmentOfNonHumanPrimates.cfm). Use this information to support your answers.
I think chimpanzees can be used in this type of research to understand their anatomy, behaviour, intelligence, evolution and resemble to human beings. However sending a chimpanzee to space is risky because they might resemble human beings but are not fully humans. Similar applies for other primates who are less closely related or are more closely related to humans. The first thing is taking proper care of the animals and following the protocols and no inhumane behaviour to the animals while conducting experiments. The number of animals used should be minimum and should not be suffering from any kind of pain. For the benefits of research results one should not ignore the potential risks to the animals because of the experiments. Once the experiment is over one should not stop looking after the well being of the animals. Also enriching their environments for the well well being of the animals should also be taken care of.