Animal testing is accurate form of study due to the fact that animals are so similar to humans. In fact, Thomas Dixon states that “human beings share about 99% of their genes with chimpanzees.” This means that these animals’ bodies will most likely react the same way as ours would. Due to this fact, animal testing is a very accurate way to learn the effects of substances on the human body. According the American Medical Association, 99% of all active physicians in the United States believe that animal research has improved medical procedures.
Almost everyone around you has benefited from animal testing in some way. Without animal testing and research, people who have survived many illnesses would probably not be alive today. The length of a person’s life in the United States has improved greatly. In 1900 the average age of a human was 49 years, but in 2001 the average age was 67.6 years. The medicines responsible for extending people’s lives could not have been developed without animal testing.
As mentioned in the previously, these illnesses include polio. Through animal testing scientists discovered a vaccine that cured the polio disease. Other vaccines that were discovered from animal testing include mumps, measles, rabies and hepatitis. In addition, the treatment for diabetes was discovered through animal testing. This treatment is called insulin. Insulin makes sure that there is enough sugar in the body. Without the discovery of insulin through the use of animal research, many people would not be able survive this disease today.
Humans are not the only ones who benefit from animal testing. Animals also benefit from the testing. The research completed can also improve the lives of animals through the discovery of treatments and cures just like with humans. Animals and humans have similar health problems. Some of these problems include allergies, cancer, heart disease, measles, and much more! Have you ever heard your mom talk about heartworm medicine for your dog? This medicine was discovered through animal testing. Without animal testing this medicine that has saved many dogs’ lives would not be available.
The author of the Nature article above argues that animal testing is painful and uncomfortable for animals. Although this is true, the benefits of animal testing outweigh these drawbacks. These animals help scientists make discoveries that could possibly change human lives. Thus, they need to be treated with as much care and respect as possible. Scientists and researchers are striving to make the experimenting safe and just as well as causing little pain and discomfort as possible.
In order to make sure that the testing is, in fact, as safe as possible for the animals, there are many rules and regulations set by the government. The people that are in charge of these rules and regulations often complete surprise inspections on the facilities where the testing takes place. Even veterinarians are used in order to inspect and make sure the proper actions are completed in order to ensure the animals’ safety. Some of these numerous laws and regulations include Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and State Certification for Animal Research. For example the Animal Welfare Act sets standards of care and treatment to be provided to animals that are used in research. The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is responsible for providing training to investigators who inspect the facilities where animal testing takes place. State Certification for Animal Research requires companies to have certification in order to practice their research.
While the author of the Nature article is right to point out the safety of animals subjected to these tests, we should not stop these tests altogether. Animal testing benefits our lives as well as the lives of animals greatly. We need animal testing as a part of our country’s scientific research in order to ensure our safety as well as animals’ safety! After reading about all of the facts and benefits of animal testing, do you think the benefits of animal testing outweigh the drawbacks?
Fun Links
Against Vicious Activism, by Anonymous http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7230/full/457636a.html
Animal Testing Pros, by Ranjan Shandilya. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/animal-testing-pros.html
Animal Experimentation, by Dr. Thomas Dixon. http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=7
Development of Polio Vaccines, by Bonnie Maybury Okonek and Linda Morganstein http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/CC/polio.php
Identification of irritation and corrosion hazards to skin: an alternative strategy to animal testing, by D. A. Basketter, E. Whittle and M. Chamberlain http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6P-478BY2W-82&_user=130907&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F1994&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000004198&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=130907&md5=50780acdcd4eeb434ed1edefd5ab7056
Kids 4 Research, by Anonymous http://www.kids4research.org/kids/
Life Expectancy in the United States, by Laura Shrestha. http://aging.senate.gov/crs/aging1.pdf
Tireless polio research effort bears fruit and indignation, by Byron Spice http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05094/482468.stm#ixzz0h2sldhgK
Anna Perez
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