Why Dissect Frogs?
A Doctor's First Experience...
There are many surgeons who say that they first discovered their life’s passion standing over a dissected frog in a middle or high school biology class. Someday you might be that surgeon that saves lives.
Apart from inspiring the medical professionals of tomorrow, what is the purpose of dissection? And more importantly, why is everyone always dissecting those poor green amphibians?
But I'm not going to be a doctor!
There are many reasons that students in biology classes are asked to perform dissections, and they have a lot to do with understanding the body and the wider world. In dissecting an animal, students see, touch, and explore the various organs in the body. Seeing these organs and understanding how they work within a single animal allows students to understand how these systems work within many other animals, including themselves. While there are various aspects that may differ between humans and other animals, many of the organ systems in complex animals work in similar ways to those of humans.
Top Reasons Why Frogs are Dissected
Frogs bodies have a lot of similarities to human bodies. Frogs have most of the same organs as humans and they are laid out in a similar way.
You can learn about more about ecology and evolution. An examination of the body structures and adaptations illustrate how frogs evolved over time. A good example is the tongue which both long and strong in order to catch insects in flight. Frog tongues are especially adapted to catch insects which in turn provides balance to the ecosystem of which it is a part.
Frogs are a practical dissection choice. They are a good size for use in a classroom. They have a relatively short lifespan (7-9 years) and are an abundant species.
In many states Bullfrogs are considered Invasive Species. Non-native frogs can decimate a native population in a relatively short time by out competing and cannibalizing other frogs. Using frogs for dissection can help control populations.
Dissection provides Hands On Science. When students get the chance to see and feel the organs they will take more out to of the lesson and remember it better than a reading assignment. It may also help students learn a better appreciation of their own bodies so they can make better decisions about how they treat them.