Why Animal Testing?
Animal testing is a major reason why doctors are able to perform complex surgeries and prescribe medications that help reduce infections and the amount of pain people feel. However, a paradigm shift has been occurring over the past centuries on whether or not animal testing is still beneficial and needed for medical research. By some people, animal testing is viewed as un-necessary and cruel treatment of animals; people question how reliable animal testing truly is. In medical research, animal testing is used to find new cures for diseases, causes for diseases, and for the development of new surgical procedures. Also, “animals are used to produce a variety of vaccines” (Pringle, 1989, 44). We recognize how animals benefit us therefore precautions are made to ensure the correct care of the animals being tested upon. New finds not only help build a deeper understanding for humans but for animals as well. The benefits and knowledge that come from animal testing in the medical field are clear reasons why it should be continued.
Similarities between Animals and Humans
Animals and humans have genetics that are very similar. Some of the most similar are chimpanzees and gorillas. Chimpanzees are 98.4 percent genetically the same as humans and gorillas are 97 percent the same as humans. Most other animals are about 80 percent genetically the same. This makes animals very useful in comparing animal testing results to humans.
Opposition's View
Animal testing, by some, is seen as cruel and un-necessary treatment of animals. They oppose animal testing because the animals are not in their natural habitats and may be susceptible to pain during an experiment.
Medical Advancements with Diseases
Benefits in research, from the use of animals, have been tremendous. “In 1989, the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs published an impressive list of medical advances made possible through research using animals including, among others: studies on autoimmune deficiency syndrome, behavior, cardiovascular disease, cholera, hemophilia, malaria, muscular dystrophy, anesthesia, nutrition, and the prevention of rabies,” such research resulted in subsequent benefits for humans and non-human health (Canadian Council of Animal Care, n.d.).
Here are just a few disease better understood using animal research.
· Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
· Parkinson’s Disease
· Pomp’s Disease
· Allergies
· Vaccinations
Caring For Animals in Research
“Initiatives to improve the care of laboratory animals and encourage and develop alternatives to procedures that cause discomfort to animals are accelerating around the world” (Hart, 1998, 3). As people see the benefits that come from animals, they have a desire for the proper treatment of those animals.
Animal Testing Benefits Other Animals
Most research done to help humans is applied to animals as well. Many animals are affected by the same diseases humans are. Medicines and vaccines originally developed for humans can, often times, be used on animals. When a dog goes in for a surgery, the pain killers it is given are often times the same pain killers humans are given, which were originally developed using animal testing. Also, the veterinarians probably learned the anatomy and practiced the procedure on other dogs while they were going to school. Animal research is a practice that helps not only humans, but animals as well.
Similarities between Animals and Humans
Animals and humans have genetics that are very similar. Some of the most similar are chimpanzees and gorillas. Chimpanzees are 98.4 percent genetically the same as humans and gorillas are 97 percent the same as humans. Most other animals are about 80 percent genetically the same. This makes animals very useful in comparing animal testing results to humans.
Opposition's View
Animal testing, by some, is seen as cruel and un-necessary treatment of animals. They oppose animal testing because the animals are not in their natural habitats and may be susceptible to pain during an experiment.
Medical Advancements with Diseases
Benefits in research, from the use of animals, have been tremendous. “In 1989, the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs published an impressive list of medical advances made possible through research using animals including, among others: studies on autoimmune deficiency syndrome, behavior, cardiovascular disease, cholera, hemophilia, malaria, muscular dystrophy, anesthesia, nutrition, and the prevention of rabies,” such research resulted in subsequent benefits for humans and non-human health (Canadian Council of Animal Care, n.d.).
Here are just a few disease better understood using animal research.
· Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
· Parkinson’s Disease
· Pomp’s Disease
· Allergies
· Vaccinations
Caring For Animals in Research
“Initiatives to improve the care of laboratory animals and encourage and develop alternatives to procedures that cause discomfort to animals are accelerating around the world” (Hart, 1998, 3). As people see the benefits that come from animals, they have a desire for the proper treatment of those animals.
Animal Testing Benefits Other Animals
Most research done to help humans is applied to animals as well. Many animals are affected by the same diseases humans are. Medicines and vaccines originally developed for humans can, often times, be used on animals. When a dog goes in for a surgery, the pain killers it is given are often times the same pain killers humans are given, which were originally developed using animal testing. Also, the veterinarians probably learned the anatomy and practiced the procedure on other dogs while they were going to school. Animal research is a practice that helps not only humans, but animals as well.
