Comments on: Scientists’ Mouse Fight Club Demonstrates the Home Field Advantage

By: Tani hosting

Tani hosting — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:37:03 +0000

Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

By: Mousketeer

Mousketeer — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:24:22 +0000

1-Every site I have seen talking about this experiment sensationalizes it by talking about a “fight club.” It wasn’t a fight club. It put two territorial mice in a cage and they did what they do, determined who’s space it was. Since it is what they do naturally and they weren’t instigated into fighting, it follows IACUC guidelines.
2- No vivesection took place. Observations were made, and the mice were put to sleep like we do with a loved pet, and then they had their brains examined for lasting changes to their specific receptors. Vivesection is a loaded word bandied about by people who are against animal experimentation, and I respect their views, but it is used far too often to describe things that are not vivesection (live cutting.)
3- What is the status quo from 400 years ago they are trying to maintain? Ignorance? and who with aggression issues is going to tell an experimenter that they have an increased sensitivity to androgens in the medial anterior bed nucleus of their stria terminalis which is making them more aggressive, and every time they are more aggressive it happens again? All you would hear is “that guy looked at me funny so I had to break his face. It felt good, so I beat his friend for being there.” Self report does not work for this.
5- I am non-violent, I do not condone animal cruelty, and I have questions about the usefulness of lots of the experiments that are taking place all over the world… but not this one.

By: Hastaroth

Hastaroth — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:36:44 +0000

If a bunch of “Josh” have to die to enable us to get valuable information about the neural pathways for aggression,then so be it.

After all,the “Josh” are humans,they will die with their own consent-writen and informed.Mice,on the other hand,are neither informed nor consenting to their death for the interests of humans.

By: JR

JR — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:04:55 +0000

Humans do more to continue the proliferation of aggression and violence by abusing, enslaving and objectifying animals or any minority group that has less power than another. Tests like these are ignorant of the obvious; a culture that condones all of the above and tests like these in the name of science or otherwise will only empower those who believe it is okay to disregard the value and interests of others for their own interest or amusement. Besides if these “scientists” want to do some hard, intelligent work and not earn their ridiculous salaries for torturing individuals, they should maybe try talking to people with the issues they are are trying to solve instead of playing with mice. Then again, they are trying to maintain the status-quo from about 400 years ago.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:50:00 +0000

Mediating aggression is a super important goal for humanity. If a bunch of mice have to die to enable us to get valuable information about the neural pathways for aggression, then so be it.

By: Jack C.

Jack C. — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:45:22 +0000

vivisectors curing diseases again…who funded this abusive busywork?

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:57:56 +0000

This must have been an interesting IACUC approval…