A laboratory in the UK has accidentally let rats reproduce too much, with an amount equivalent to an entire city.
According to a recent report by the British Home Office, an unnamed laboratory in the UK has accidentally created a huge number of rats – equivalent to the population in York City. In other words, the scientific world has inadvertently created a “rat city”.
Specifically, this laboratory has bred up to 180,000 mice for experiments – larger than the number indicated in the license, and performed unlicensed experiments on them. However, what they received was only a letter of reprimand from the managers.
In fact, rats are the most common experimental subject.
According to experts, this incident is an alarm bell for a similar situation in many laboratories around the UK.
Reportedly, the laboratory responsible for the “rat city” is only licensed to control about 127,600 mice. However, the actual number is up to 179,546, much larger.
Scientists working here believe that the error occurs when the number of mice is stored in too many different databases. However, another issue in the report that deserves more attention is the fate of the laboratory mice.
Accordingly, the individuals after the experiment were left in the recovery cage without food or water. Many die from not being fed properly, or from suffocation due to broken air vents.
Jan Creamer, president of the National Anti-Bacterial Society, said: “The failure to provide basic care for laboratory animals is truly appalling, and raises questions about the nature of the animals. of those experiments.
“If we can use a more advanced method without the animals, we can eliminate those questions and yield better results.”
Rats are being tested, but in worrisome conditions.
In fact, rats are the most common test subject, accounting for 60% of the 2 million animal species used by science each year. They are used in research projects to find cures for people – including serious diseases like cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
The reason mice are used so much is because they are small, but have good adaptability. They also reproduce very quickly, as a single mother rat can produce up to 40 pups a year. At the same time, the mouse is also an animal whose genome is very close to that of humans.
But of course, experimenting on animals makes activists unable to stand by. PETA has called on the government and the scientific community to “stop investing in inhuman experiments with animals” – particularly with rats.
Baroness William – Home Secretary agrees: “The use of animals is important for the development of science. But to do that, we have to keep it all under control, and only use it. use animals when there is no other alternative.”
“When using animals, we must strictly apply the 3R – replacement, reduction, and refine – while ensuring animal welfare standards. appropriate should be met”.
“I am committed to upholding strict regulations on the use of animals in science.”