VYONNE SMALLEY,
Sir, - Scientists have again been allowed to let their curiosity run unbridled. This time American scientists have created "Ratbots" - rats programmed like robots (Irish Times, May 4th). Rats are not robots; they are unique, individual creatures capable of feeling pain and performing their natural behaviours.
It is morally indefensible to reduce a living creature to a programmable, micro-chip-controlled tool, for whatever purpose.
Are "dogbots", "horsebots" and "monkeybots" already being secretly developed?
This is appalling research and shows a total absence of respect for the integrity of non-human creatures. May projects such as this never be licensed in Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
VYONNE SMALLEY, Irish Anti-Vivisection Society, Greystones, Co Wicklow.