Can biological needs be tested experimentally? - Biology Forum

last updated by

animartco 11 years, 8 months ago

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- May 24, 2013 at 2:20 pm #17363
  ellateflag
  Participant
  As in, is there a way of quantifying and testing whether or not a specific ‘need’ exists in an animal? Can the concept of needs be studied scientifically?
- May 25, 2013 at 8:05 pm #113861
  Cat
  Participant
  What do you mean by "need"?
- May 29, 2013 at 1:07 pm #113878
  ellateflag
  Participant
  quote Cat:
  What do you mean by “need”?
  I suppose as in a requirement, such as for food in order to not die. Or more specifically for a specific nutrient.
- June 5, 2013 at 3:29 am #113903
  chatters
  Participant
  Deprive it of the specified nutrient…
  and wait.
- June 5, 2013 at 12:48 pm #113909
  animartco
  Participant
  Yes, the only way to see if something is a need is to deprive the subject of it and see what happens. Since such deprivation can result in all sorts of damage to the subject, some of which may not become obvious for years or even generations, trying to asses whether something is actually ‘needed’ in the life of any creature is virtually impossible.
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