Plant and animal testing encompasses experimental methods that use whole organisms or their tissues to assess biological responses to chemicals, drugs, genetic modifications, environmental stressors, or other interventions under controlled conditions. In plants, testing commonly involves growth assays, phytotoxicity and ecotoxicological evaluations, and phenotypic or molecular analyses following exposure or genetic manipulation. In animals, it includes in vivo toxicology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy studies, and behavioral or physiological assessments, often guided by standardized protocols and regulatory frameworks. These methods aim to elucidate mechanisms of action, dose–response relationships, safety margins, and translational relevance to ecosystems or human health, while increasingly integrating refinement, reduction, and replacement strategies.
What plant do cats love most? In Europe and North America, many people would probably answer "catnip." In Japan, the answer would more likely be silver vine (matatabi in Japanese). Both plants are famous for triggering the ...
Plants & Animals
May 19, 2026
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In early phases of drug development, new active substances are tested in animals—alongside numerous other experimental methods. Researchers face a dilemma: on the one hand, for ethical reasons, they aim to keep the number ...
Other
May 11, 2026
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Though it's largely a hereditary trait, siblings often grow to be different heights. But even if they end up topping out at the same stature, they may take different paths to get there. As they progress through childhood, ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Apr 30, 2026
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Eggs and poultry provide important sources of protein globally, driving a major industry with large economic impacts. Challenges to hatchery operations include embryo mortality, fertility, sex determination, and eggshell ...
Biotechnology
Apr 28, 2026
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At first glance, the white plastic box with a bright orange floor looks like something for storing children's toys. However, the box isn't used to store Lego bricks; it contains real mice—with the aim of minimizing their ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 27, 2026
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The telltale V-formations of migrating Canada geese each spring are usually welcome harbingers of warmer weather. They are also a visible warning that your chances of stepping on something unpleasant in a local park, sports ...
Ecology
Apr 21, 2026
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Picture this: your brain is a high-performance engine. Over decades, it doesn't just wear down, it also starts to run hot. Tiny "fires" of inflammation smolder deep within the brain's memory center, creating a persistent ...
Bio & Medicine
Apr 14, 2026
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The wave-shaped chart Ratul Chowdhury pulls up on a computer monitor in his office captures the evolutionary cat-and-mouse game his research lab is up against. The undulating curves track variants of the porcine reproductive ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Apr 13, 2026
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8
Common human painkillers also work on Norway lobsters, according to research from the University of Gothenburg. This is further evidence that crustaceans may feel pain and that more humane methods of killing them need to ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 13, 2026
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In areas where freshwater is scarce, farmers often turn to treated wastewater to irrigate crops. And many regulators and consumers worry about exposing food to compounds routinely found in wastewater, including many psychoactive ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Mar 12, 2026
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