Bridging the gap from molecules to mind

Science is wonderful. It truly is. You do need to look at it though, sometimes closely, sometimes from an umbrella perspective. Given the age we live in with the Internet, social media and elaborate educational systems there are plenty of sources to find your 'brainbone' so to speak. Understanding or having the capacity to, is however something different.
Oh, by the way, the words in the title aren't mine, they're from Robert Desimone. Bob if I may call him so, works at the McGovern's institute for brain research at MIT. His message is simple yet so fascinating: understanding how the brain gives rise to the mind. The discipline is called neuroscience and through research it tries to answer the origins of consciousness, what memory is and much more.

After blogging about animal liberation, some of the actions they undertake and their tactics, I felt the need to refocus on animal research and why it matters. I have written about the use of non human primates in research. The following article provides you with work done by researchers from MIT on some research using primates .
The MIT approach however is not centered around one particular technique or species but on choosing whatever system is best suited to answer questions. This is so important to understand for each and every researcher is confronted with this identical question for every subject of investigation (the study).

Now you tell me if we can afford to exclude one species or another from this approach? To me the answer is No, plain and simple. Not until such time as there are cures or treatments towards such diseases or disorders as Autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's , loss of vision, speech, hearing or motion etc. and we understand the underlying disease or disorder mechanisms that affect millions of us.  As it is said on the MIT web site, basic discovery research is the engine that drives new practical applications. To get to the answers may and will take different animal models, behavioral and imaging studies in humans and much more.  It is worth our collective and individual efforts.  Equally important is to understand why this research takes place, how it is done and how you or your family or generations before or after us, benefit from these stepping stones and the milestones reached through research and medical advances.
Should you have a or know someone affected by a disorder or a disease, there probably is no need to convince you. There is however the need to strongly express your support towards all those involved from the laboratory animal technician to the university researcher via our teachers, professors and those that fund research.   Just say 'No' to this alliance of animal rights groups target princeton university and this.    


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