Digital Frog 2 (or 2.5) offers virtual dissection as an eco-choice and compassionate option for biology classes. The benefits of virtual dissection are numerous – mainly young people (with their growing and developing bodies) are not exposed to toxic formaldehyde; and millions of frogs are not killed and dissected. The Humane Society of the United States reports that, “…most dissected animals are caught in the wild, which may contribute to serious worldwide declines in many animal populations”.
Formaldehyde use creates a slew of health problems from the preservation of the animal specimens to teachers and students inhaling the toxic fumes. The Environmental Magazine explains that, “…formaldehyde can cause nausea, headaches and breathing difficulties in people, and has been linked to cancer in animal studies. Teachers and students involved in frequent dissections are exposed to it regularly”. People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reports that their “…investigators documented cases in which animals were removed from gas chambers and injected with formaldehyde without first being checked for vital signs, a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Formaldehyde is a severely irritating caustic substance that causes a painful death.”
Digital Frog is a computer generated eco-solution to wet lab frog dissection. The comprehensive MAC and PC compatible DVD offers everything students could learn from a real time frog dissection. Digital Frog 2 includes Dissection, Anatomy and Ecology (something often not taught in frog dissection biology classes) sections. In the Dissection section there are virtual options for head, abdomen, leg, heart, liver, lungs, stomach, intestines and urogenital dissection. Students can make ‘digital’ cuts while using a computer scalpel and perform the virtual dissection on a computer screen.
Anatomy covers the immune, control, circulatory, digestive, interacting, respiratory, urogenital and musculoskeletal system.
The Ecology component of the DVD includes frog behaviour, niches, biodiversity, life cycle and environmental concerns. Under environmental concerns the DVD explains “…many scientists consider frogs important as bio-indicators. Frogs have permeable skin and live both on land and in water. As a result, environmental problems quickly affect frogs. Frog populations have declined or disappeared around the world, and deformities and mutations are becoming common.”
A 2001 study at George Mason University compared virtual frog dissection (using The Digital Frog 2) to actual physical body dissection and concluded that, "...multimedia-based virtual dissection was more effective than hands-on dissection in helping students learn about frog anatomy. Moreover this result was achieved when the time available for the virtual dissection was approximately 44% less than that available for hands-on dissection".
We love Digital Frog 2 and think it is an amazing eco-option for schools and teachers. Every school that is still performing antiquated wet lab dissections should at least try Digital Frog 2 – we guarantee they won’t go back. Digital Frog 2 is the green option for dissection.
Link: http://www.digitalfrog.com/
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