For this task, ironically, they must be elevated from the gutter and cleansed of all their filth. In this paper, drawing on representations from various sources, I want to explore some of the meanings of “the laboratory rat” or “laboratory rodent.” I start with the rats, partly because I am particularly familiar with them in laboratories. However, much of the argument applies also to mice, and I draw also on representations of more generalized rodents. At times, these two different kinds of rodent may be practically interchangeable in their use in scientic research and their histories as specically bred animals in the
For this task, ironically, they must be elevated from the gutter and cleansed of all their filth. In this paper, drawing on representations from various sources, I want to explore some of the meanings of “the laboratory rat” or “laboratory rodent.” I start with the rats, partly because I am particularly familiar with them in laboratories. However, much of the argument applies also to mice, and I draw also on representations of more generalized rodents. At times, these two different kinds of rodent may be practically interchangeable in their use in scientic research and their histories as specically bred animals in the