Laboratory animals are bred by specialized companies for genetic purity. Guinea pigs were once popular but are now less so due to long gestation periods and sensitivity to drugs. “Being a guinea pig” can also refer to testing untested products or services. Companies may use smaller divisions as test subjects to gauge public interest. Being a rhetorical guinea pig can be rewarding or risky.
The animals used for laboratory tests are not randomly selected from local pet shops or breeders, but are shipped directly from specialized companies that breed genetically pure strains. This purity eliminates many of the problems scientists face when looking at the results of their experiments, since all animals should be in similar health beforehand. For decades, a favorite experimental animal has been the guinea pig, which is considered sturdier and easier to observe than mice or rats. To be used as a guinea pig, therefore, intended to be the guinea pig for medical or scientific experiments.
Eventually, however, the guinea pig became less and less popular as a test animal for laboratory experimentation. Compared to other rodents, it has a long gestation period, meaning it could take months before generations of animals can be studied for genetic damage. The animal is also highly sensitive to drugs such as penicillin, making it not an ideal candidate for medical research. Many laboratories have already switched to using mice for their research and there are now only two strains of laboratory mice available for research purposes. In 2006, a major dairy farm in Britain bowed to public pressure and agreed to stop production.
In the common vernacular, being used as a guinea pig suggests becoming a tester for an untested process or product. If a friend graduates from beauty school and wants to get her first professional haircut, for example, the brave friend in her chair is used as a guinea pig. A cook experimenting with a new recipe can also look for a volunteer to serve as a guinea pig. Others may decide to observe the person’s reactions before engaging in such a taste test. Unlike the true rodent, a person is often aware of the dangers involved and agrees to take the risk.
Sometimes, a large company will use one of its smaller divisions as a test subject to gauge public interest in a new line of products or services. By observing both the positive and negative results of the experiment, the company can make a rational decision about whether or not to invest more time and money into the project. Being used as a rhetorical guinea pig can be both rewarding and risky. There is an element of sacrifice inherent in the position, but there is also often a sense of accomplishment if the experiment leads to new advances.
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