The history of animal dissections goes all the way back to Ancient Greece and Egypt and dissections have played a part in scientific exploration for thousands of years. Here are some of points in the dissection history timeline:

• Prior to 0 AD: Dissection becomes the leading method of teaching anatomy at the School of Alexandria in Egypt (Elizondo-Omana et al. 2005).

• 129 – ~217 AD: The Greek physician Galen uses animal dissection to write The
  

  Image Credit: archer10 (Dennis Jarvis) (see references)

  Treaty of Anatomy under the rule of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius which is used to teach anatomy for 14 centuries (Elizondo-Omana et al. 2005).

• Middle Ages: The dissection of human cadavers is considered blasphemous and is banned by the church.

• 14th & 15th centuries: French and Italian scientists reintroduce the use of cadavers for dissection and anatomical exploration (Elizondo-Omana et al. 2005).

• 1275-1326: Mondino dei Lyzzi writes Anathomia based on his discoveries of the human body (Elizondo-Omana et al. 2005).

• 1543: Andreas Vesalius writes De Humani Corporis Fabrica, another anatomy text (Elizondo-Omana et al. 2005).

• Overtime, cadavers become a popular tool for teaching anatomy but legal and ethical concerns for human dissection lead to an increase in using animals in dissection.

• Early 1900’s: Frog dissections become commonplace in college and high school level education (AAVS, 2009).

• 1910-1920: Frogs become commercially available for educational institutions (AAVS, 2009).

• 1960’s: The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study aims to overhaul and refine biological education through the use of hands-on activities and dissection (AAVS, 2009).

• 1988: It is estimated that 75-80% of all secondary level biology classes use animal dissection as part of the curriculum.