Today's biology classroom crisis -- Early history of dissection: controversy and advances -- Controversy in the development of science education and dissection -- The context for dissection: educational testing -- National versus state educational standards: whither dissection? -- Legislation and regulations related to using animals and dissection in teaching -- Empowering teachers to find substitutes for dissection -- Students and the culture of dissection -- The animals used in teaching -- New teaching resources in the computer age -- Locating teaching resources and research literature on alternatives.