Why Vivisection Persists If animal experimentation is of such questionable value, why does it persist?
There are several likely explanations. Vivisection is easily published. In the “publish or perish” world of academic science, it requires little originality or insight to take an already well-defined animal model, change a variable (or the species being used), and obtain “new” and “interesting” findings within a short period of time. In contrast, clinical research (while much more useful) is often more difficult and time-consuming. Also, the many species available and the nearly infinite possible manipulations offer researchers the opportunity to “prove” almost any theory that serves their economic, professional, or political needs. For example, researchers have “proven” in animals that cigarettes both do and do not cause cancer – depending on the funding source.(161,162) Vivisection is self-perpetuating. Scientists’ salaries and professional status are often tied to grants, and a critical element of success in grant applications is proof of prior experience and expertise. Researchers
