It is a question that has been asked for several decades now: Should the lives of other species be sacrificed for the educational furtherance of humankind? A student of the life sciences as part of his undergraduate study annually dissects at least five specimens each of cockroaches, prawns, pila, fish, garden lizards, frogs, and rats. At least 19 million insects and animals are removed from their habitats each year for this purpose alone.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, has resolved to drastically bring down the use of animals for dissection in classrooms across the country. Recently the UGC brought out guidelines to reduce in a phased manner the practice of animal dissection in laboratories for courses in higher education.

Equally vociferous views are being expressed both for and against the move. In a meeting that was recently held in Chennai experts discussed various alternative learning methods that could replace dissection. Participants at the meeting focused on revamping curricula for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

“Understanding the biology of animals in their natural environment, an aspect of ‘Live Zoology’ will be much more exciting than dissecting animals caught in the wild, which can affect the ecological balance,” says M.A. Akbarsha, Director and Chair, Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center (MGDC) for Alternatives to Use of Animals in Life Science Education, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchi. According to him, learning dissection does not in any way add value to students of zoology because that kind of practical learning is not put to any use since only about 10 percent of students go on to pursue postgraduation, while the majority of them either take up teaching or find jobs in other areas.

In all developed countries, dissection is no longer part of the curriculum of life science courses. At the Chennai meeting, there was consensus that at the undergraduate level dissection should not be part of the curricula. It was also decided that postgraduate students can be familiarized with handling animals and experimentation since a section of them would go on to pursue research.

Experts emphasize the need to accommodate the latest developments in the life sciences. In recent years a staggering number of newer branches of this wide discipline have emerged that reduce the need for learning anatomy through dissection; some of these branches are biodiversity, biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology.

Dissection could be replaced with digital alternatives such as simulated dissections and various other pedagogical tools based on information and communications technologies.
The UGC has asked universities to constitute ‘Dissection-Monitoring Committees’ to look into the use of animals in life science labs. The UGC further intends to sponsor three- to five-day dedicated workshops to create awareness with the help of organizations that have expertise in the field. Experts also say that field visits and project work will help students learn biodiversity better. This emerging area will help students understand how animals and plants behave in their natural environment and what their roles in ecology are. In this context, the UGC guideline also talks about the need to include a chapter on ‘Animal Ethics’ in an appropriate course of study.

“Molecular system is another emerging area which should be included in the curriculum. It only requires samples and therefore does not require killing specimen,” notes Mr. Akbarsha. “Learning anatomy from a live species or from a diagram is in no way different. Ultimately, there is no value addition. Therefore even models, diagrams can be used,” he adds.

In many cases live animals can be used in studies without harming them in any way; after studying them they can be, in fact, returned to their natural habitat. Not all specimens need to be collected from the wild; some can be sourced from places such as fish market, slaughter houses, and clinical labs. Where animals are unavoidably used, as in physiology experiments, steps should be taken to prevent all of the needless pain to which they are subjected.