Unusual science experiments are often performed at Lake Central, and on Friday, Sept. 17, the Honors Anatomy classes conducted a dissection lab of rats. The classes of Mrs. Parks, Science, each performed detailed experiments. The lab was used to compare the anatomy of a rat to the anatomy of a human.
“[They] have to be able to observe internal structures and identify them. The rats are used in order to get an idea of the [human] structure,” Parks said.
Some students found the experiment to be worthwhile because of their interest in the way the body works.
“I want to go into medicine, surgery specifically, so I like going through the actual anatomy, and it is cool to see it in real life compared to a textbook,” Joey Grzybek (12) said.
Other students found the rat to be a little bit harder to look at.
“It is cool to look at, but it makes me kind of sick,” Hailey Benko (11) said.
Grzybek has also dissected a heart and a cow’s eye, but dissecting a rat was a different experience.
“I think a lot of it is, not necessarily desensitizing you, but getting you comfortable seeing something that was living,” Grzybek said.
The experiment gave students a different view of the human anatomy.
“It gives you a perspective. You can always think you [know] what it looks like, but you actually get to see it in person, so when you are learning, you can apply it to the lessons you are doing,” Benko said.