Tuna_Bluefin
Tuna_Bluefin t1_j7k5mk5 wrote
Reply to Why are specific monkey/ape species suitable for biomedical research while others are not ? by Sleevvin
It's a good question! Humans as apes are more genetically similar to other apes than tailed monkeys, and that small difference (e.g. 1-2% of dna) has a huge impact on development. When animal research is carried out there is lots of preparation with model cell lines, organoids, tissue cultures, etc., before you get to the actual animal in the cage. With all that effort put into preparation, you want the final animal samples to be as close to human samples as possible.
Other simians also have different diets, microbiomes and are susceptible/resistant to different diseases than humans, which could definitely affect your immunology experiments.
However, the scientific benefits of using our closest relatives (i.e. humans, chimps and bonobos) is outweighed by the ethics of using highly intelligent and emotional organisms for research when alternatives are available. Ultimately, this is a socially constructed limitation but it's one I agree with. Also, it is very very expensive to raise great apes in captivity, which means research budgets can't cover it. Imagine raising a 60kg human with emotional problems that can bench 150kg for years just to cut it open and look at its colon. That's not worth it.
Tuna_Bluefin t1_j7kgi1o wrote
Reply to comment by mpinnegar in Why are specific monkey/ape species suitable for biomedical research while others are not ? by Sleevvin
Lol, I'm just imagining a chimp that has to deal with scientists sticking things up its bum every day. Like "please not again, I'm still sore"