Response to Andrew McNamara's Post: Does the labeling of an animal, for example ''laboratory animals'', have an effect on its moral status?

I agree it certainly does. The whole purpose of a lab is to utilize instruments for the purpose of advancing one's cause (could be his self interest, human interest, or other interest). When we keep animals in labs, we are not acknowledging their intrinsic value. They are instruments (possessing extrinsic value) for what we deem fit for them. We try to be nature's regulatory force when we try to prevent something in nature to occur that might harm us. Our best defense besides self interest is that we are preserving nature, but is that true? Isn't it reductive to self interest still since nature continues regardless of human existence?