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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Experts 'to back monkey testing' | Experts 'to back monkey testing' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UK's leading research organisations are expected to back the continued use of primates in scientific experiments. | The UK's leading research organisations are expected to back the continued use of primates in scientific experiments. |
| The Weatherall committee is expected to back the use of non-human primates for studies that can reduce human suffering and loss of life. | The Weatherall committee is expected to back the use of non-human primates for studies that can reduce human suffering and loss of life. |
| Fewer than 1% of animal tests are conducted on primates and the committee has spent 18 months examining if these are sound and relevant to humans. | Fewer than 1% of animal tests are conducted on primates and the committee has spent 18 months examining if these are sound and relevant to humans. |
| Anti-vivisectionists are firmly opposed to research involving primates. | Anti-vivisectionists are firmly opposed to research involving primates. |
| BBC Science Correspondent Pallab Ghosh said research on primates caused particular controversy because they were more sentient than other laboratory animals and so suffered more. | BBC Science Correspondent Pallab Ghosh said research on primates caused particular controversy because they were more sentient than other laboratory animals and so suffered more. |
| The committee, led by Oxford geneticist Professor Sir David Weatherall, heard evidence from 35 people, including representatives from academic organisations, animal welfare groups, the government and patients. | The committee, led by Oxford geneticist Professor Sir David Weatherall, heard evidence from 35 people, including representatives from academic organisations, animal welfare groups, the government and patients. |
| It also received 62 written submissions. | It also received 62 written submissions. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Testing on monkeys is not just acceptable, it's vitally necessary Paul Elliott, UK href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4982&edition=1&ttl=20061212111258" class="">Send us your comments The inquiry was set up the Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and the Academy of Medical Sciences. | |
| Just over 4,500 experiments were carried out on primates last year, mostly to test new drugs. | Just over 4,500 experiments were carried out on primates last year, mostly to test new drugs. |
| The scientific community has long argued that there is no other safe way to test many new drugs or carry out certain types of brain research. | The scientific community has long argued that there is no other safe way to test many new drugs or carry out certain types of brain research. |
| However, opponents insist primates are poor models for human disease, and say such research has failed to produce treatments for leading killers including heart disease and malaria. | However, opponents insist primates are poor models for human disease, and say such research has failed to produce treatments for leading killers including heart disease and malaria. |
| The use of great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas, is prohibited in the UK. | The use of great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas, is prohibited in the UK. |