Medical Advancements
Research on animals has brought about the development of many drugs now used to save thousands of lives with many types of cancers, such as leukemia. The main treatments of cancer, until recently, have been surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. However, using animal-based research, scientists are better able to understand the differences of cancer cells compared to normal cells. This new knowledge is leading to treatments that are more direct at killing the cancer cells increasing the survival rates of cancer patients by 50-60 percent. Advancements are continuing to be developed creating more efficient and gentler way to help patients (Americans for Medical Progress [AMP], 2010). With improving advancements scientists hope to one day find a complete cure for all cancers. Cancer has been greatly benefited from animal testing, but so has many other diseases.
Some of Thousands of Advanments Made
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A childhood leukemia that would kill virtually every child who became infected. But now, because of animal research, over 80 percent of the children who become infected are cured (AMP, 2010). With more research being done, this cancer will eventually be 100 percent curable.
Parkinson’s Disease: Does not have a cure but because of animal research scientists and doctors have gained greater knowledge about its causes and symptoms. After Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease. Using stem cell therapy, involving injecting mice with different dopamine-producing cell lines, scientists are better understanding the process of Parkinson’s disease. The research of this disease “has advanced to the point that halting progression and even preventing Parkinson’s are considered realistic goals” (AMP, 2010).
Pomp’s Disease: Is “an inherited disease” that impairs an infant’s ability to function properly (Pompe Disease, February, 2010). A specific species of Shorthorn cattle were found to show the same symptoms of Pomp’s Disease that humans show when infected. Using these animals, scientists were able to learn more about the disease and eventually develop an “enzyme replacement technique to assist in therapy and prevention” (Monamy, 2009, 60). Many infants infected with this disease are now able to be treated properly because of animal testing.
Allergies: Food allergies, depending on how severe, can limit a person’s ability to live a normal life. Anne Muooz-Furlong, founder of Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network stated, “several new potential treatments are moving from laboratory and animal testing and into clinical trials, giving patients and their families hope that they someday may subdue or even conquer food allergies” (Rubin, 2009). Animal tests have also helped with the development of a new pharmaceutical drug called FAHF-2, which is currently being tested to help with shellfish and nut allergies (Rubin, 2009). This new drug is first being tested on animals to ensure its safety for human use.
Vaccinations: Animals are an essential part in both the development and testing of vaccines. An example of how animals are essential in the development of a vaccine is the polio vaccine. In the year 1952 there was a polio epidemic in the United States which resulted in 58,000 cases of the disease. However, in the year 1984, there were only four cases recorded. These changes are a result of the release of the polio vaccine in the year 1955. Scientists were able to transfer the polio vaccine to a specific species of monkeys in order to perform experiments which eventually led to the development of the polio vaccine (Monamy, 2009, 59). If it were not for the use of these monkeys, the polio vaccine would not have been developed, resulting in the death of countless more lives from the polio virus.
A very crucial part in making vaccinations is preventing the spread of bacterial infection. In laboratories where both human and animal testing takes place, researchers noticed that their patients would contract fevers after a vaccination but did not understand why. Through tests they found that vaccinations contained bacterial residues that were causing the fevers. Researchers found that by using horseshoe crab blood, vaccinations could be made sterile. Horseshoe crab’s blood contains a cell called amebocyte, which breaks down pyrogen. Pyrogen is a left over substance from bacteria that was causing people to get sick after a vaccination (Novitsky, 2009). In order to perform accurate vaccination tests, the subjects need to be alive so that results can be observed. Non-living organisms cannot show bodily changes because their internal systems are not functioning therefore no side effects will show. If the vaccinations were being tested on non-living organisms, pyrogen would not have been discovered. Without animal testing, vaccinations would not be as safe for neither animals nor humans to use.
Some of Thousands of Advanments Made
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A childhood leukemia that would kill virtually every child who became infected. But now, because of animal research, over 80 percent of the children who become infected are cured (AMP, 2010). With more research being done, this cancer will eventually be 100 percent curable.
Parkinson’s Disease: Does not have a cure but because of animal research scientists and doctors have gained greater knowledge about its causes and symptoms. After Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s disease. Using stem cell therapy, involving injecting mice with different dopamine-producing cell lines, scientists are better understanding the process of Parkinson’s disease. The research of this disease “has advanced to the point that halting progression and even preventing Parkinson’s are considered realistic goals” (AMP, 2010).
Pomp’s Disease: Is “an inherited disease” that impairs an infant’s ability to function properly (Pompe Disease, February, 2010). A specific species of Shorthorn cattle were found to show the same symptoms of Pomp’s Disease that humans show when infected. Using these animals, scientists were able to learn more about the disease and eventually develop an “enzyme replacement technique to assist in therapy and prevention” (Monamy, 2009, 60). Many infants infected with this disease are now able to be treated properly because of animal testing.
Allergies: Food allergies, depending on how severe, can limit a person’s ability to live a normal life. Anne Muooz-Furlong, founder of Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Network stated, “several new potential treatments are moving from laboratory and animal testing and into clinical trials, giving patients and their families hope that they someday may subdue or even conquer food allergies” (Rubin, 2009). Animal tests have also helped with the development of a new pharmaceutical drug called FAHF-2, which is currently being tested to help with shellfish and nut allergies (Rubin, 2009). This new drug is first being tested on animals to ensure its safety for human use.
Vaccinations: Animals are an essential part in both the development and testing of vaccines. An example of how animals are essential in the development of a vaccine is the polio vaccine. In the year 1952 there was a polio epidemic in the United States which resulted in 58,000 cases of the disease. However, in the year 1984, there were only four cases recorded. These changes are a result of the release of the polio vaccine in the year 1955. Scientists were able to transfer the polio vaccine to a specific species of monkeys in order to perform experiments which eventually led to the development of the polio vaccine (Monamy, 2009, 59). If it were not for the use of these monkeys, the polio vaccine would not have been developed, resulting in the death of countless more lives from the polio virus.
A very crucial part in making vaccinations is preventing the spread of bacterial infection. In laboratories where both human and animal testing takes place, researchers noticed that their patients would contract fevers after a vaccination but did not understand why. Through tests they found that vaccinations contained bacterial residues that were causing the fevers. Researchers found that by using horseshoe crab blood, vaccinations could be made sterile. Horseshoe crab’s blood contains a cell called amebocyte, which breaks down pyrogen. Pyrogen is a left over substance from bacteria that was causing people to get sick after a vaccination (Novitsky, 2009). In order to perform accurate vaccination tests, the subjects need to be alive so that results can be observed. Non-living organisms cannot show bodily changes because their internal systems are not functioning therefore no side effects will show. If the vaccinations were being tested on non-living organisms, pyrogen would not have been discovered. Without animal testing, vaccinations would not be as safe for neither animals nor humans to use.
