Xenotransplantation And Animal Rights

Franklin Hoke's interesting article about strides in technologies that may soon make xenotransplantation clinically viable ("Biotech Companies Set To Profit From Animal Organ Transplants," The Scientist, Oct. 16, 1995, page 1) was marred by the inclusion of the predictable complaints and criticisms of animal-rights groups. Spokespersons for these groups have nothing of value to say about science in any form, since they know little or nothing about it, or they conveniently subjugate their scien

Written bySharon Russell
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share

Spokespersons for these groups have nothing of value to say about science in any form, since they know little or nothing about it, or they conveniently subjugate their scientific knowledge to correspond with their fuzzy, sentimental pseudophilosophy demanding no animal use for any reason. This blanket statement includes those who really should know better, by virtue of having had medical or veterinary training. The time has come for responsible media to stop fawning on these neo-Luddite organizations and give them the treatment they deserve-ignore them.

Otherwise, in order to be consistent, The Scientist should include statements from creationists in every article having to do with evolution, the age of the universe, and so forth, as well as the insights of members of the Flat Earth Society each time you publish something about Earth or space travel and exploration.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Published In

Share
December digest cover image of a wooden sculpture comprised of multiple wooden neurons that form a seahorse.
December 2025, Issue 1

Wooden Neurons: An Artistic Vision of the Brain

A neurobiologist, who loves the morphology of cells, turns these shapes into works of art made from wood.

View this Issue
Stacks of cell culture dishes, plates, and flasks with pink cell culture medium on a white background.

Driving Innovation with Cell Culture Essentials

Merck
Stacks of cell culture dishes, plates, and flasks with pink cell culture medium on a white background.

Driving Innovation with Cell Culture Essentials

MilliporeSigma purple logo
Abstract wireframe sphere with colorful dots and connecting lines representing the complex cellular and molecular interactions within the tumor microenvironment.

Exploring the Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment 

Cellecta logo
An image of a DNA sequencing spectrum with a radial blur filter applied.

A Comprehensive Guide to Next-Generation Sequencing

Integra Logo

Products

brandtech logo

BRANDTECH® Scientific Announces Strategic Partnership with Copia Scientific to Strengthen Sales and Service of the BRAND® Liquid Handling Station (LHS) 

Top Innovations 2026 Contest Image

Enter Our 2026 Top Innovations Contest

Biotium Logo

Biotium Expands Tyramide Signal Amplification Portfolio with Brighter and More Stable Dyes for Enhanced Spatial Imaging

Labvantage Logo

LabVantage Solutions Awarded $22.3 Million U.S Customs and Border Protection Contract to Deliver Next-Generation Forensic LIMS