Frog Dissection
To the dismay of many high school students, a science class may cover the subject of frog dissection; a prospect that causes squeamish reactions among quite a few individuals. Many may wonder what the purpose of frog dissection could be, and what possible information could be gleaned from the process.
Most would agree that the frog is a pretty unassuming creature. Not really an attractive critter, not often kept as a pet; the choice of a using a frog, dissection wise, may seem puzzling. Actually, these are among the very reasons that the poor frog IS used for these experiments.
Frog internal organs are quite similar to those of a human, and the same systems of the organs. While a frog’s anatomy is not nearly as complicated as a human, digestion, circulatory, skeletal, muscular, respiratory, nervous, skin, excretory and sensory are all shared systems between the two. These facts made the amphibian a good choice for the controversial frog dissection issue.
Reasons for frog dissection continue into the research scientist field, where dissection is routinely done to examine the effects of diverse environmental concerns on the small creature. Pollution and climate changes affect these types of wildlife in a dramatic fashion, causing variations in water and flora conditions. Frogs are extremely sensitive, so any differences show up quickly in their delicate forms, alerting scientists to potential risks.
Veterinarian students use frog dissection to perfect surgery techniques, as well as to gain knowledge on the treatment of certain diseases affecting different organs. While technology today allows professionals to view internal organs via specialized equipment, the doctor must still know first hand of the organs and their makeup. Even medical doctors must begin small, hence frog dissection, in order to graduate to larger and more intricate body systems. Autopsies will eventually require the need for skilled hands to guide them through the human body, and practicing early on small creatures such as frogs is the building block for this procedure.
For students who have a moral objection to the use of actual dead frogs in classes, there is now an alternative option available to them. Virtual frog dissection is becoming more and more widespread, especially in high school classrooms, due to public outcry of the frog’s plight. Software is readily available in many forms to allow teens to practice virtual frog dissection without any risk to an actual amphibian.
While many of us have a soft spot in our hearts for small, defenseless creatures, it is important to remember the scientific need to gain knowledge on their biological makeup, the effects of environmental concerns and to hopefully improve our understanding of processes. Frog dissection is one necessary means of obtaining this information; information that could one day unlock a mystery of life.