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I am amazed at the stupidity of anti-vivisectionists, exemplified by Marlene Thomson's letter (July 2). How does she think so much progress has been made in medical science in the past century - through human experimentation?

Doesn't she know that modern science is as much about understanding the differences between species as understanding the similarities (that's right, similarities - no one makes any claim for carbon copies)?

It is time more scientists stood up for vivisection - for medical progress and for knowledge per se. Sadly, I will have to decline to do so in public because the extremists take exception to rational debate.

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