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Animal Research

Animal research is like war; it is unappealing, but vital for the advancement of society.

Animal research is arguably the most essential element in science today. Without it, present

medicine would be far less developed and advancements extremely more timely. Millions of

lives have been saved, and regardless of empathetic opinions, the pros greatly outweigh the cons.

Animal research provides an effective way of testing and developing new products, medicines,

and other necessities while keeping humans safe in the process and should, therefore, be kept in

place.

The term "animal testing," dating back to 500 BC, refers to procedures performed on

living animals for purposes of research into basic biology and diseases, assessing the

effectiveness of new medicinal products, and testing the human health and/or environmental

safety of consumer and industry products such as cosmetics, household cleaners, food additives,

pharmaceuticals and industrial/agro­chemicals. To be clear, “research” can range from giving

animals conventional medicine to simply observing a mouse’s behavior in a new environment.

According to the US­based Foundation for Biomedical Research, “Animal research has played a

vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century ­ for both human and

veterinary health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation,

from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint replacement. Practically every

present­day procedure for the prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain, and

suffering; is based on and knowledge attained through research with lab animals” (Pro­Test). It

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does not only benefit humans, animal research has contributed greatly to veterinary medicine,

saving even more animals in the process. You have to lose a few to gain many.

Furthermore, AnimalResearch.info states, “Humans and animals share hundreds of

illnesses, and consequently animals can act as models for the study of human illness”

(AnimalResearch.info). Primates share 99% of the coding sequences (or DNA) in our human

genes and mice 97.5%, making them and many other creatures extremely reliable sources

regardless of them being a different species. Mice and other animals used all have a very small

lifespan, so researchers can study the effects of treatments or genetic manipulation over a whole

lifespan across several generations, which would be infeasible for humans. There are no efficient

alternatives currently that are able to take the place of animal research. Evaluating a drug’s side

effect requires a circulatory system and in most cases, the whole body to carry the medicine to

different organs. Furthermore, computer simulations and fake DNA are unable to accurately

simulate the working of complex organs such as the heart and brain. Also failing to simulate the

unknown, such as sensitive skin, allergic reactions, etc, making it all the more vital.

The idea of animal research being mindless, harmful probing on animals is completely

false. As stated, it is a process essential to human beings and animals alike though seemingly

unpleasant. Just as one would not want to “eat their veggies,” in the end, it will be most

beneficial for them and others. Animal research is always humane, scientists conducting research

on animals follow strict laws, requiring care by veterinarians, husbandry specialists, and animal

health technicians to ensure their well­being and achieve more accurate findings. There are

various laws managing the safety of animal research. Such as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA),

Public Health Service (PHS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the AALAC.

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A common misconception is that the animals not covered by the Animal Welfare Act, (rats,

mice, birds,) are subject to whatever treatment may befall upon them. False. As stated, additional

laws and acts have been put into place, all of which provide strict rules that ensure humaneness

and that research, when there is a probability of harm, is only carried out in situations with no

other alternatives.

Furthermore, a fact. animals do not have rights. It is human morals that keep animals

alive. Humans have dominion over animals. This is not denying that animals feel pain and have

emotions. However, if one was to argue they have rights, how are 56+ billion animals most

treated extremely inhumanely, slaughtered each year for human consumption. Additionally,

animals lack the cognitive ability or moral judgment that humans do and because of this they

have been treated differently than humans by nearly every culture throughout recorded history..

In this regard, it is in no way illegal to conduct research on an animal. By denying an animal’s

right to live, there is no way advocation of harming or allowing animals to unnecessarily suffer.

Which is why animal research is only used when the pros are certain to outway the cons, in

which all cases they do.

Eating meat is not necessary to live, but nonetheless more than 6.7 billion people

consume it every day. Every year, 56 billion animals are slaughtered for consumption, yet we

continue to eat them. How can something like animal research, in which only 100 million

animals are killed, and not even always that, for good, essential causes, come off as a vile and

inhumane act? More people protest against something that has helped them and their society than

something that has just given them temporary pleasure. (Humane Society).

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In the end, would you rather see hundreds of thousands of cancer patients die due to zero

treatments available? The Americans for Medical Progress states, “New cancer drugs account for

50­60 percent of the gains we have made in cancer survival rates since 1975.” Would you rather

see parents have no alternative but watch their child pass away due to leukemia? “When St.

Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, founded by actor Danny Thomas, opened in Memphis in

1962, the survival rate was four percent. St. Jude’s revolutionized leukemia therapy and today 80

percent of the children survive” (AMP). 18.2 million people ­ 6.3 percent of the U.S. population

­ have diabetes, which is a leading cause of death and disability. Diabetes also affects animals

and has been diagnosed in virtually every breed of dog and cat. Several new treatments and

medicines, including development of quick­acting and long­acting insulins, islet transplantation

for type 1 diabetes, and new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes are helping patients manage their

disease, all because of animal research. (AMP).

It comes down to what is most essential for our society and humans today as we are

advancing and growing. Animal research has and continues to play a vital role in society while at

the same time keeping humans out of harm’s way, and needs to be be kept in place. You have to

lose a few to gain many.

Works Cited

“Animal Testing.” debate.org. N.P. 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 March 2015.

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“Animal Testing ­ Pros & Cons.” procon.org. procon.org. 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 March 2015.

Day, Nancy. Animal Experimenting. Cruelty or Science? Berkeley Heights: Enslow Publishers,

2000. Print.

Pro­Test. Pro­Test. 2006 Web. 30 March 2015.

Tipu, Aziz. Interview With the Guardian. theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited.

3 March 2006. Web. 1 April 2015.

Works Consulted

American Association for Laboratory Animal. “Is Animal Experimentation Justified?” The

Rights

of Animals. Ed. Tamara Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999. Print.

Botting, Jack and Morrison, Adrian. “Is Animal Experimentation Justified?” The Rights of

Animals. Ed. Tamara Roleff, San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999. 55­60. Print.

Post, Gerald. “What is a Clinical Trial, and Should I Enroll my Dog in One?” Dog Fancy.

December 2014: 18­19, 61. Print.