Great find, Catherine! I didn't know about this development. It is highly significant, not only because it could persuade researchers and doctors to abandon the use of lab animals, but above all because it brings possiblities which are actually far better than using animals for practice.
According to the article:
"Three-dimensional copies have been created of five hearts from real infants with cardiac anomalies using a high-tech 3D-printer, which almost perfectly reproduces the organ’s structure using a photopolymer resin, based on sophisticated MRI and CT imaging."
That means that doctors can practice on an exact copy of the child's heart, including the defects, which must be massively superior to using laboratory animals whose physiology would not be 100% identical like the 3D copy is.
Although for animal lovers the ethical issue of using animals is paramount, for hard-headed scientists and medical people (some of whom regard animals as "expendible", even when severe pain is involved) this latest development could wean them away from using animals, because the new alternative is actually superior scientifically.
According to the article:
"Three-dimensional copies have been created of five hearts from real infants with cardiac anomalies using a high-tech 3D-printer, which almost perfectly reproduces the organ’s structure using a photopolymer resin, based on sophisticated MRI and CT imaging."
That means that doctors can practice on an exact copy of the child's heart, including the defects, which must be massively superior to using laboratory animals whose physiology would not be 100% identical like the 3D copy is.
Although for animal lovers the ethical issue of using animals is paramount, for hard-headed scientists and medical people (some of whom regard animals as "expendible", even when severe pain is involved) this latest development could wean them away from using animals, because the new alternative is actually superior scientifically.
