TORONTO 鈥� A U.S. medical technology company that specializes in the development of synthetic human and animal models is celebrating a 鈥渨orld first鈥� 鈥� the launch of the 鈥淪ynFrog鈥� a replacement for the usual formalin-preserved specimens used in classroom dissections.
Students at J.W. Mitchell High School in the Pasco County School District in Florida dissected nearly 100 of the synthetic frogs last week to launch the product.
SynDaver, known for its hyper-realistic human and animal models used in medical education and surgical simulation 鈥� seen in shows like Grey鈥檚 Anatomy 鈥� developed the SynFrog with animal rights organization PETA, according to their .
鈥淭he SynFrog mimics the visual and textural properties of a live female frog,鈥� the release reads. 鈥淭he frog features a synthetic skeleton, synthetic muscles along with highly realistic synthetic skin and organs, including a reproductive system with eggs.鈥�
SynDaver says the frogs are 鈥減hysically safer鈥� for students to use in dissections because it 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 contain potentially harmful chemicals like formalin.鈥�
The company says its SynFrog can be reused and 鈥減rovides a solution to an ethical problem that has plagued educators for decades.
