Plastination (PL), which produces specimens of the human body, is a new technique developed by Dr. G. Hagens (University of Heidelberg, Germany) to preserve tissues in a lifelike state. As much controversy has resulted since the use of such specimens began in Japanese medical education, the authors described the pros and cons regarding their effectiveness from the following points of view: 1) whether the specimen is easy or difficult to use; 2) whether it is lifelike or not; 3) whether it has an unpleasant look or not. The authors, then, examined the possibility of using this PL technique to make specimens of creatures other than man. The authors also discussed applications of the PL technique, the use of such specimens in biological education and the problems this might cause from the following standpoints: 1) ease of use of the specimens; 2) the possibility of using specimens to show living things; 3) the unpleasant looks of the specimens; 4) the range of other possible creatures for which this technique can be used.