From what I have heard it is a necropsy (for animals) but I always wondered about DNA is it DNA when it relates to animals?
Or it it a different word also relating to the animal?
I watched the 60 minutes episode tonight and it made me think of this.
Yes, DNA is DNA for all animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and miscellaneous.
DNA is genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid. Doesn’t matter if the thing that has it is human, non-human animal, plant, fungi, protozoa, bacteria, or virus.
RNA is ribonucleic acid, and different types of RNA are used to convert what is encoded in the DNA into functional proteins. Again, doesn’t matter if the thing that has it is human, non-human animal, plant, fungi, protozoa, bacteria, or virus.
Autopsies in animals are called necropsies, yes.
Out of curiosity, what was the 60 minute episode about?
Some viruses have RNA as their primary genetic material, rather than DNA.
I’ve also heard vets use the term ‘post-mortem exam’ (which is also used for humans, as another phrase for autopsy).
The word would be ‘slaughter’ or ‘butcher’ when referring to food animals.
I disagree. Neither ‘slaughter’ nor ‘butcher’ imply an examination aimed at looking for pathology, which is what an autopsy is.
Animals get autopsied, just like humans do.
Yes, but I’ve most often heard animal autopsies referred to as “necropsy”, at least by vets.
There is not a lot of difference if you look at DNA for various animals. The majority of it is the same.
I’ve heard of human autopsies called ‘necropsies’ by pathologists and medical examiners, too.
Wow very interesting. Thank you and the 60 minutes episode can be seen HERE
online, it was about preserving extinct animals with DNA from an that animal into a current species. It was very scary in my eyes but somewhat necessary.
A example would be a wild almost extinct cat and they take the DNA and somehow insert it into a similar species like a house cat and viola. They talked a lot about the mammoth I think it’s called. But I think they are hedging on some dangerous territory, but definitely a little bit on the scary side.
Barbecue, in the South.
Interesting. 
Because I’ve been drilled to use “necropsy” for animals and “autopsy” for humans.
And while I know there is an “ayup, an animal gets slaughtered/butchered/barbecued” thing going on… It really is NOT like that, and like Qadgop says, veterinary pathologists are trained to look for pathologies, signs of disease, causes of death… Not giving you the best cut of tasty meat. It is a veterinary specialty, after all. And believe it or not, food animals ARE one of main clients for necropsies.
That said, I do admit I get hungry sometimes when I do my necropsies. But I know better than to taste my patients.
What about “vivisection”? Does that apply to non-humans, too?
You live in a world where vivisection applies to humans?
(Well, yes, it used to. Unit 731 and all those unprosecuted war crimes.)
Vivisection generally refers to procedures performed on living animals. See M-W’s definition:
So, that would be called exploratory surgery in humans.
Operation?
I get a mental image of a red cartoon nose lighting up, & the sound of a buzzer…
It’s called the same in animals.
Vivisection appears to be an uncommon term. The few times I’ve encountered it has been more in terms of animal experiments.