Shanghai has built the largest laboratory animal center in China.

The Shanghai laboratory animal center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China's top research body for the natural sciences, can provide more than 40 strains of experimental animals.

Half of the strains are animals to be used for the study of human diseases. The center is expected to produce 300,000 to 400,000 mice for various experiments.

Relocation and expansion of the center was finished Saturday.

It aims to become China's first specialized base for lab animals to be recognized by relevant international organizations within three years.

Animals used for such experiments should be carefully raised to make sure they are free from bacteria and viruses.

A three-m-high pillar was erected in the yard of the center, dedicated to the lab animals which have helped the study of the life sciences.

(Eastday.com.cn 08/19/2001)