Students skip slime, stink with virtual dissection

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — It's not just concern for the squeamishbiology students who wince at the feel and smell of cutting into aformaldehyde-soaked animal.Think about the frog. The pig. Or even the rat.That's what animal rights activists in West Virginia's NorthernPanhandle had in mind when they donated interactive software thatreplicates a frog dissection to Wheeling Park High School.Marilyn Grindley, a member of the Ohio County Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals, said dissecting animals"desensitizes kids. It tells them that we do not have any respect forany animal." She wants to end the practice.Mandates in 14 states, including Virginia and Maryland, that allowbiology students to opt out of dissection without jeopardizing theirgrades are fueling interest in virtual dissection as an alternativetool for teaching anatomy.-- full story:http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9NWzotHbKy5v5JiueFOboEZ4HXQD910Q7FG1 http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7