Animal welfare & alternatives

Gene confers resistance to Marek’s disease

Scientists have identified a gene that appears to make chickens immune to the deadly Marek's virus - responsible for millions of deaths in chickens each year.

#WW award for NC3Rs review

Our Wedneday Winner today is the NC3Rs for producing a really clear, accessible and comprehensive review of the work it funds.

Replacing animals with nerves on a chip

A team of scientists have developed a way of guiding nerve cells to set up complicated networks that mimic the ones found in the brain.

'Glow in the dark' cats aids HIV research

Scientists inserted two genes into cats: the first is taken from macaque monkeys and helps the cat resist the feline form of Aids; the second is a fluorescent gene from jellyfish that helps the researchers literally see where the added anti-aids gene is active.

Safer treatment for sleeping sickness

Scientists have trialled a safer way of treating sleeping sickness in mice by modifying an existing medicine.

Computer model predicts effect of medicines on heart

Scientists have developed a computer model that predicts the effect of anti-arrhythmic medicines on the heart.

Allergy testing with human cells

Allergic reactions to everyday chemicals are common causing eczema in millions of people, and tests on animals have been important in testing new chemicals for skin sensitisation.

Committing to the three Rs

The UK Home Office this morning agreed arrangements to deliver two Coalition commitments relating to the use of animals in scientific research

Polar bears and brown bears interbred

A genetic study of living and the ancient remains of polar and brown bears has revealed that they interbred during the last ice age and that modern polar bears are descended on the female side from brown bears that lived in Ireland.

But can they suffer?

'The question is not can they reason nor can they talk, but rather can they suffer?' Jeremy Bentham

Vulture decline slows

The ban on a veterinary medicine which caused an unprecedented decline in Asian vulture populations has shown the first signs of progress.

Creation of new Animal Welfare Centre in Scotland

The Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is to coordinate a major, new, EU funded, research project to create a Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare Science.

European Chemical Agency call for animal test data

Chemical safety in Europe is regulated in part by REACH*.

#WW Wednesday Web award - Smallpox Through Time

In Elizabethan times smallpox killed more people than TB, leprosy, plague and syphilis combined.

Virtual rats' whiskers

A new computer model of rats' whiskers is helping scientists understand how rats process the sense of touch.