Animal Minds and Animal Emotions

The possibility of conscious experiences of emotions in non-humananimals has been much less explored than that of conscious experiencesassociated with carrying out complex cognitive tasks. However,no great cognitive powers are needed to feel hunger or painand it may be that the capacity to feel emotions is widespreadin the animal kingdom. Since plants can show surprisingly sophisticated"choice" and "decision-making" mechanisms and yet we would notwish to imply that they are conscious, attribution of emotionsto animals has to be done with care. Whether or not an animalpossesses anticipatory mechanisms associated with positive andnegative reinforcement learning may be a guide as to whetherit has evolved emotions.     

Animal behaviour

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was estimate the amount of adaptogenic action of an extract of Rodiola Rosaceae and of an inhibitory amino acid (serin) using the model of desynchronization. 24‐hours oscillations of some processes of lipid peroxide oxidation in the serum of blood were investigated measuring the following indices: peroxidase lysis of erythrocytes (PLE) , peroxidase (AP) and dien conjugates (DC) activity. In addition the 24‐hour rhythm of basal temperature was determined. Desynchronization was accomplished by exposure to constant light (290 Lx). Correction of this desynchronization was obtained by means of administration of phytoadaptogens and by inhibitory amino acids. From day 11 after the beginning of the treatment of desynchronization, a normalization of all the above mentioned indices was observed in the treated group. In the control group all signs of desynchronization remained.     

Animal biotechnology

Biotechnology has taken two directions in efforts to speed up animal production above the rates achievable by selective breeding. Recombinant DNA methods have been used to engineer protein gene products for direct administration to livestock, as in recombinant growth hormone to stimulate lactation in dairy cows or yield faster-growing, leaner carcasses in meat animals. Cloned cellulolytic genes have been inserted into ruminal microorganisms with a view to improving ruminant nutrition. The other direction is to use advanced breeding technologies to enhance performance. These include laboratory culture of large numbers of viable embryos for non-surgical transfer to surrogate mothers, development of methods for sexing sperm and embryos, cloning embryos by nuclear transplantation and gene transfer to create livestock with superior performance traits. In all cases material progress will depend upon a deeper understanding of the underlying physiological and developmental control mechanisms and public confidence that due regard is being paid to animal welfare, and to social and environmental implications.     

Animal Posters

The presence of heparin and a mixture of penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine (PHE) solution in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) media seem to be a prerequisite when bovine spermatozoa are capacitated in vitro, in order to stimulate sperm motility and acrosome reaction. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the addition of heparin and PHE during IVF on the quality and penetrability of spermatozoa into bovine oocytes and on subsequent embryo development. Sperm quality, evaluated by the integrity of plasma and acrosomal membranes and mitochondrial function, was diminished (P?<?0.05) in the presence of heparin and PHE. Oocyte penetration and normal pronuclear formation rates, as well as the percentage of zygotes presenting more than two pronuclei, was higher (P?<?0.05) in the presence of heparin and PHE. No differences were observed in cleavage rates between treatment and control (P?>?0.05). However, the developmental rate to the blastocyst stage was increased in the presence of heparin and PHE (P?>?0.05). The quality of embryos that reached the blastocyst stage was evaluated by counting the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cell numbers and total number of cells; the percentage of ICM and TE cells was unaffected (P?>?0.05) in the presence of heparin and PHE (P?<?0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that while the supplementation of IVF media with heparin and PHE solution impairs spermatozoa quality, it plays an important role in sperm capacitation, improving pronuclear formation, and early embryonic development.     

动物克隆

简要介绍了动物克隆技术的发展历史和现状,以及该项技术在医学、畜牧业、濒危动物保护等研究领域的应用前景。     

Animal tool-use

The sight of an animal making and using a tool captivates scientists and laymen alike, perhaps because it forces us to question some of our ideas about human uniqueness. Does the animal know how the tool works? Did it anticipate the need for the tool and make it in advance? To some, this fascination with tools seems arbitrary and anthropocentric; after all, animals engage in many other complex activities, like nest building, and we know that complex behaviour need not be cognitively demanding. But tool-using behaviour can also provide a powerful window into the minds of living animals, and help us to learn what capacities we share with them - and what might have changed to allow for the incontrovertibly unique levels of technology shown by modern humans.