Robots could replace live bunnies in chemical testing procedures

We don't know about you, but to us, there's nothing cuter than a warm, cuddly bunny -- save for Hello Kitty, of course. Thankfully, the National Institute of Health and the EPA have teamed up to jumpstart a five-year research program that "will use high-speed automated screening robots" instead of live animals to run chemical tests on cells grown in a laboratory. Reportedly, the long term goal here is to "reduce the cost, time and number of animals used in screening everything from pesticides to household chemicals," but according to those involved with the initiative, it'll be quite some time before non animal-based testing becomes the norm. Hang tight, dear bunnies -- there's hope for you all yet.

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

[shawnmos @ Feb 15th 2008 11:40AM]

wow, that thing's got a big head! cute though.

[Ryan Trevisol @ Feb 15th 2008 11:51AM]

You know, the people that do the tests on those bunnies must have no soul. How could you take anything that cute and hurt it?

[joe23521 @ Feb 15th 2008 12:04PM]

They only use non-cute rabbits.

[Passarinhuu @ Feb 15th 2008 1:29PM]

DIE UGLY RABBIT! lol

[itme @ Feb 15th 2008 1:54PM]

thanks

[from_me @ Feb 15th 2008 5:51PM]

i have no soul. does that make it ok for me to hurt cute bunnies?

[Fraggle.Rock @ Feb 15th 2008 11:45AM]

Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit... :-)

Oh, nothing like morose humor early in the morning, haha.

[Jeff @ Feb 15th 2008 1:17PM]

i don't think that means what you think it means.

[Fraggle.Rock @ Feb 15th 2008 1:32PM]

Inconceivable!

>>> big ups to Princess Bride :-)

[Anthony @ Feb 15th 2008 11:54AM]

As a 12 year vegan I try to avoid products that test on animals so I welcome any news that would move away from this practice. I don't think most people even realize the extent to which this goes on & the millions of animals that die "testing" things every year.

Now- on to this rabbit. It's weird looking. Seriously. Weird.

[w00t @ Feb 15th 2008 4:08PM]

Indeed. I was reading the safety data sheet that came with a solvent used for stripping paint, etc and here's a line from it:
"Irritancy of material: eye: yes, skin: yes (eyes, skin - rabbit.)"

So basically someone poured this stuff into a rabbit's eye to determine that. (Which will cause horrific pain and blindness)

That is absolutely disgusting, the sooner this technology is realised the better.

[Anthony @ Feb 15th 2008 4:51PM]

You're right. In fact, testing is still done on bleach. If you don't know by now that pouring bleach into your eyes will screw you up then you deserve to have bleach poured in your eyes (I recognize the cyclical nature of that, but it's just the way it is).

[Andrew @ Feb 15th 2008 11:54AM]

Holy shit. That thing is CUTE.
Wow.

[techsan @ Feb 15th 2008 11:56AM]

So...what's the test control group as you test the robot to know it "works" the same as a bunny....more bunnies?

[pechorin @ Feb 15th 2008 12:07PM]

anybody know what specie of bunny is that? i have doubts between that bunny and the ipod nano and i want to look for comparatives

btw, does it play doom?

(seriusly, i want to know the specie)

[jenny @ Feb 15th 2008 1:32PM]

It looks like a baby Netherland Dwarf to me...and I think it's the angle of the camera that makes the head look so big. They're pretty small...like 2 pounds.

[pechorin @ Feb 15th 2008 3:39PM]

it could be, i will try to get one. thank you :)

[LordSludge @ Feb 15th 2008 12:10PM]

PWEEZ NO BERN UP MY I'S. PWEEZ?

[Chris @ Feb 15th 2008 1:36PM]

oh my goodness this comment is amazing

[RogerWilco @ Feb 15th 2008 12:12PM]

Sure now just wait PETA will change their name to People for the Ethical Treatment of Androids
break in and free their cyber brothers......

[Mike @ Feb 15th 2008 12:16PM]

Great. Another job class put out of work by robots. Poor rabbits...

[Nick @ Feb 15th 2008 1:04PM]

the researchers still analyze the results.. instead of putting drops of chemicals into the eyes of a rabbit they put the chemicals into a culture of skin.

[Mike @ Feb 15th 2008 1:09PM]

We're not quite on the same page, are we?

[Nick @ Feb 15th 2008 1:24PM]

yeah... i think i need to stop multitasking at work. sorry bout that

[Mike @ Feb 15th 2008 1:29PM]

It's okay, my eyes keep flitting over to http://www.woot.com for the Woot-off too.

[Jeff @ Feb 15th 2008 12:20PM]

Whoa, for a second there I thought I was browsing http://www.cuteoverload.com by mistake.

[phanbouy @ Feb 15th 2008 1:03PM]

haha i thought your URL said "cuteoverlord" for a second, like animated depictions of cute looking despots. i need some coffee...

[kev @ Feb 15th 2008 12:23PM]

Nabaztag 2.

[Kizorblade @ Feb 15th 2008 12:26PM]

"Ok, turnz off teh expander. I iz not smarter with big hed"

[Mike @ Feb 15th 2008 12:33PM]

Alternatively,
"im in ur lab, testin ur kemikals"

[wacko_javo @ Feb 15th 2008 12:35PM]

Hello Kitty is a cat!

[Ellianth @ Feb 15th 2008 12:43PM]

But then the bunnies would be unemployed. And we'd have to raise taxes to pay them welfare. Do we really want that?

[Jason @ Feb 15th 2008 12:53PM]

Hmmm... cat food :) Then again, I call anything smaller then a 50 pound doge cat food.. since I have a 30 pound cat... (1 of 4.. this bunny would never survive)

Okay all joking aside, seriously cute.....

[Arkweld @ Feb 15th 2008 1:01PM]

if this bunny was running for president I would vote for it.

This is the face that should be on TV whenever there is bad news to report.

[Xzavier @ Feb 15th 2008 1:03PM]

"Robots could replace live bunnies in chemical testing procedures"

And a Fleshlight could replace my girlfriend...

Come on bro...

[ben @ Feb 15th 2008 1:43PM]

So you're saying you have sex with animals?

[Ellianth @ Feb 15th 2008 2:16PM]

no dummy. he's saying he has sex with a sex toy known as the fleshlight.

[BEN! @ Feb 15th 2008 1:11PM]

I for one welcome our robot bunny overlords.

[Nick @ Feb 15th 2008 1:11PM]

the UK has been doing this for years. They have even been using it for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, which is the only industry the FDA requires to have animal testing.

[JS @ Feb 15th 2008 2:26PM]

Too bad the UK FDA didn't mandate testing of dental products.

[Evil Closet Monkey @ Feb 15th 2008 1:29PM]

I find this a dangerously short sighted endeavour. Has nobody though of the consequences of letting these bunnies grow to maturity!? Think of the carnage!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg

[The_Steven @ Feb 15th 2008 1:35PM]

That's what go me into the Other PETA.... People Eating Tasty Animals.

[Boyo @ Feb 15th 2008 2:51PM]

Great sowing the seeds to the robot up rising of the distant future; The Year 2000.

Affirmative. The Humans are dead. We used poisonous gases and poisoned their asses.

Binary Solo
00000001
00000011
00011111
So long Sucker Lick my Battery!

[Boyo @ Feb 15th 2008 2:52PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoi1MSGu64

[Allen @ Feb 15th 2008 3:40PM]

That....

Is absolutely the cutest rabbit I have ever seen. Where the hell did you get that picture? Why do you have it on file?

[captain underpants and the bringdown gang @ Feb 15th 2008 3:43PM]

oh hai I can haz LOLcat replacement?

[CanCar @ Feb 15th 2008 3:47PM]

The pesticides test must be maked with the same people who create them, not with the poor animals. leveltermlifeinsurance. biz

[dcny @ Feb 15th 2008 6:38PM]

damn he's surely got the cute factor down packed, now if he was smarter we'd be in trouble

[4.7onN20 @ Feb 19th 2008 1:51AM]

Agreed, anything that cute has to be dangerous.

Where's my Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

[Ed @ Feb 15th 2008 11:14PM]

OMG.

I'm a 350lb burly body builder who actually looks a hell of lot meaner than I am. I might crack a smile in public once a year. I can't help it.

Looking at that picture... that is one of the cutest little fluffiest tiny things I have ever seen. I just want to pick him up and pet him and squeeze him and love him to death. Picture the abominable snowman from Bugs Bunny. I'm alone in my room right now so I am looking at that picture and going, "awwwwwwwwwww".

I also think that the person that can actually pick up on of those little things and perform "tests" on them must be some truly soulless bastards. I routinely want to put my whole arm through people's faces, but not something that small and cute.

The only thing that could make that picture better is if that cute little thing was being held in a hot chick's breasts. Can't we put up so more of those pictures? Please?