Abstract
The lab animal's significance and meaning are at the heart of the experimental method in modern biomedical research. Sociologists, however, have been remiss in studying how these animals are socially constructed within the scientific community as well as by industries, such as animal breeders, that support such research. Inspection of the advertisements used by breeding companies reveals three images of lab animals—the classy chemical, the consumer good, and the team player. The possible appeal of such images to readers of these ads is explored.
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Arluke, A. “We build a better beagle”: Fantastic creatures in lab animal ads. Qual Sociol 17, 143–158 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393498
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393498