Animals are the innocents .. why can't they experiment on murderers who we keep in luxury in UK prisons.They have taken human lives so it's only right that they be used to help other humans.

I have been a member of the RSPCA for over 20 years & wholeheartedly agree with their condemnation !!!

Christine Holder, Bolton, UK

RSPCA is a sensible animal welfare organisation -- nothing to do with the extremists. Nonetheless, it only looks at one side of the issue, namely the suffering caused to animals. A balanced approach would consider the suffering of people too.

Simon, London,

Medical "research" is often not about helping the "patient" but more about maintaining the status quo. For example, psychiatry is more about punishing victims of psychological abuse or mobbing than about helping them. Enough of these status quo terrorists. All species have a right to life.

Simon Validzic, Novi Zagreb, Croatia

I totally agree with the RSPCA that Dr. Chan has inflicted appalling cruelty on the Monkeys by breeding them to have Huntington's Disease. No illness justifies such cruelty to animals. It is time an immediate halt was put to such cruel research.

Fiona, Aberdeen, Scotland

Another blatant example of human arrogance and bad science. When is it all going to end? Leave the animals alone.

Antonio, London,

The RSPCA are "animal rights terrorists," Sascaha? Is Battersea Dog's Home's Al Doggieda's base? I take it the Queen (the RSPCA's patron) is their Bin Laden? Off to Guantanamo with her - perhaps she could get an orange Hardy Amies twinset for the occasion.

Ruth , Glasgow, Scotland

Without animal testing, there is no cure. "There is no cure, with five to ten people in every 100,000 who inherit the mutated gene invariably dying from the condition." That is a very large number for complying with just 5 monkeys.We will always need to advance ourselves to prevent a epidemic.

Justin, Henderson, Nevada,

The best way to eliminate Huntingdon's disease is by genetric screening - the problem in the past is that the illness was not always indentified or kept secret. - that is less likely now. It is absurd to suggest that experiments such as these on monkeys will usefully add to our knowledge.

David Bachauer, Manchester , UK

Sascha, to call the RSPCA "animal rights terrorists" shows your ignorance. Macaque monkeys are one of the most intelligent primate species and as a sentient being, closely related to humans the suffering that has been engineered here is abominable. The greater good simply isn't a good enough excuse.

Clare, York,

I am against animal testing but if it came to a choice between a member of my family dying of a disease or an animal being hurt in order to find the cure I know which one I would choose. It is difficult to find a non-emotive opinion on the actual benefits of animal testing though.

phil mann, newcastle upon tyne,

The fact that the RSPCA condemns something is generally an indication that it's a good idea - culling badgers etc. On the other hand, the fact that the RSPCA does something generally means that it's a bad idea - schooling witnesses, paying lawyers huge amounts of money, trespassing on farms etc

David Tyne, Amersham,

It's a pity they skimmed over the effects of Huntington's so lightly. I feel sorry for the animals involved but there is never any pain with HD in humans so it should be the same for monkeys. If we WERE able to experiment wih humans who already have HD there's be a lot of volunteers.

meg, Glenrothes, Scotland

Isn't the whole point that you can't experiment on humans?

This RSPCA woman isn't finding a solution, she's just moaning about the problem. Enough with these "animal rights" terrorists.

Sascha, London,