Bateson's cube is a model of the

cost–benefit analysis Cost–benefit analysis (CBA), sometimes also called benefit–cost analysis, is a systematic approach to estimating the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives. It is used to determine options which provide the best approach to achieving benefits ...

for

animal research Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and ''in vivo'' testing, is the use of animals, as model organisms, in experiments that seek answers to scientific and medical questions. This approach can be contrasted ...

developed by Professor

Patrick Bateson Sir Paul Patrick Gordon Bateson, (31 March 1938 – 1 August 2017) was an English biologist with interests in ethology and phenotypic plasticity. Bateson was a professor at the University of Cambridge and served as president of the Zoologi ...

, president of the

Zoological Society of London The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a charity and organization devoted to the worldwide animal conservation, conservation of animals and their habitat conservation, habitats. It was founded in 1826. Since 1828, it has maintained London Zo ...

Background

Bateson's cube evaluates proposed research through three criteria: * the degree of animal suffering, * the quality of the research, * the potential medical benefit. Bateson suggested that research that does not meet these requirements should not be approved or performed, in accordance with the

Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14), sometimes referred to as ASPA, is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed in 1986, which regulates the use of animals used for research in the UK. The Act permits studies to be ...

. It is not intended as a formal model for optimal trade-offs, but rather a tool for making judicial decisions, since the three axes are not in a common currency. The third criterion also does not necessarily have to be medical benefit, but could be a wider form of utility. Bateson cube has three axes measuring suffering, certainty of benefit, and quality of research. If the research is high-quality, certain to be beneficial, and not going to inflict suffering, then it will fall into the hollow section meaning research should proceed. Painful, low-quality research with lower likelihood of success will be lower back in the solid area, and should not proceed. Most research will not be clear-cut, but the guiding principle is 'hollow' should continue, 'solid' should not.

References

Animal testing {{biology-stub