The Jenny Ito Case: Getting Results - Dialogue Version

The following conversation occurs between Jenny Ito, second-year graduate student in Holzer's laboratory, Chris Holzer, Professor in the Department of Biology, and Ruth Thompson, Jenny's roommate and a graduate student in English.

Jenny: So, all of the surgical pins stick out one-quarter of an inch and I've inoculated them at the insertion point with 1 x 10⁵Staphylococcus aureus, just as you showed me. But so far, none of the 30 rabbits show any sign of infection, whether they have the pins with the anti-bacterial coating or not. And although I've been giving the morphine on the schedule we decided on, I'm not sure it's necessary because none of them seem to be particularly uncomfortable.

Chris: Well, if we don't get an infection, we won't learn anything. Here's what we'll do. Since it would be a shame to have put these rabbits through this, not to mention wasting our time, without getting some results, I want to give this a little nudge. I want you to inoculate all the rabbits with 1 x 10⁹ of pseudomonas aeruginosa. We'll see what happens then.

Jenny: But the protocol specifies Staphylococcus.

Chris: It's only a small change. We've been approved to run the risk of infecting these rabbits, all we're going to do is give the process a little boost. (He walks away.)

That evening at home, Jenny describes the situation to her roommate Ruth.

Ruth: Why are you so squeamish now? Go ahead and do it. In fact, if you really want to make him happy, you should put the new bacteria on the just treated pins. -- That'll prove his point!

Jenny: Now that's helpful. You know I can't do that -- It would be bad science!

Ruth: The whole thing is bad science. After all, you're torturing bunnies!!

Jenny (throwing her hands up in desperation): You're not helping me at all, Ruth! I know you don't approve of animal experimentation, but sometimes it's necessary, and I'm convinced this is one of those times. Still pseudomonas can cause a really nasty infection, and I hate to subject the rabbits to it, especially since it's so hard to treat. You know how cute they are and I've gotten kind of fond of them over the last month. And then there is the question of the protocol . . .

Ruth: Well, your boss has already told you it falls within the realm of reasonable interpretation of the protocol. Besides, you always planned on some of the rabbits developing infections. What does it matter if they're infected by one bacterium or another? Look at it this way: if you don't get results, you'll have to yank the pins from this batch and operate on a new bunch of bunnies. In the end, it would reduce the suffering if you just brewed up the new bugs and poured them on.