A frequent claim of the antivivisectionists is that animal research is scientifically invalid because of species differences. They claim no useful information can ever be gained from animals because they are so different to us.

The antivivisectionists seem to fail to understand how research works, or the concept of modelling certain aspects of function or disease. A model must be different from the original object. There are times when a model is actually better to study than the original, because of some particular feature. A good example is a zebra fish embryo, in which it is especially easy to study the early stages of development because it is transparent.

But can results from primitive species such as worms ever be valuable information relevant to man?

Research experts in the field certainly think so. The recent announcement that a colony of worms is to return from space to understand the impact of lengthy exposure to radiation is a perfect example. Bob Johnson, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at Simon Fraser University in Canada wishes to analyse the extent of their genetic mutations when they return. He states that:

‘worms are the perfect organism to determine the impact of radiation exposure on humans in space because they are the simplest multicellular organism with a completely known genomic DNA sequence’.

This quote reminded me of the views of Nobel prizewinner Robert Horvitz who studied nematode worms (otherwise known as C. elegans). He noted in 2002 the:

‘striking similarity between genes and gene pathways among organisms that are as superficially distinct as worms and humans… and that the rigorous, detailed and analytical study of the biology of any organism is likely to lead to findings of importance in the understanding of other organisms, including ourselves’.

There you have it. The word of experts.

But if the antivivisectionists really disagree so wholeheartedly, it begs the question of why they are thinking along similar lines. Dr Joanne Knight, a senior researcher for the National Anti Vivisection Society, gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures that:

‘we are currently funding experiments on protozoa to model conditions in the human body’.

How interesting!