[kiefer (OP)]

what are, if any, recent trends in animal testing?

[chris]

Err, I'm not sure what you mean. Please elaborate.

[neilep]

Well, hmmm!..I know a very clever horse that has passed a few exams if that's what you mean !  []

[Karen W.]

I don't know how much testing is done on animals these days, although I just watched something about where they were injecting chimps with aids virus for testing new meds on to seek cure or helpful meds to combat it! That was yesterday or day before.. I am not sure if it was currant testing or years ago as I only saw a few moments of the show. It may have been from several years back I don't know! PBS I think!

[kiefer (OP)]

i mean like..ermmm...what is the latest animal testing..in fashion if yu like..wb

[rosy]

Well... drugs have to be tested in animal models before they're used in people. So any drug that's going to hit clinical trials in the near future will be part of the current animal testing program. I think that's likely cancer, AIDS, Alzheimers, Parkinsons...
Many of those will be being tested in animals either of strains that tend to be susceptible to the diseases for which cures are being sought, so I guess they're always looking out for mice etc with that kind of genes.

I know someone who's involved in a program looking at whether diabetes is actually caused by triggers in the brain before the pancreatic changes kick in (they think the cause is in some way in the brain, but it was a conversation over dinner so I didn't get the details). So they're looking at stimulating the brains of (I think) mice with diabetes to cure it in some way.

Not sure otherwise... given the general climate, most people whose research is tested on animals tend to keep it pretty quiet.

[Karen W.]

That is interesting!

[chris]

Why is this in the geology forum?!

[Karen W.]

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION!