Alexis Ray

English 15

5 December 2017

Animals in Scientific Research

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Animals in Scientific Research

A controversial topic that has faced Americans for years has been the question of

whether it is right or wrong to include animals in the testing of treatments before human

trials. Animal testing has been used for years to advance medical research farther than it

would have ever been able to go if it wasn’t for the tests. The testing done on animals

over the years has created cures, medications, and treatments for humans and animals

alike saving countless lives and extending the overall lifespan of a person into their late

seventies. Animals are protected under many laws and organizations now to prevent any

cruel or harsh environments for the creatures. Even though there are numerous positives

associated with the testing of animals to further our medical understanding, there are still

many people opposed to the idea. They fear that even with many laws and organizations

protecting the animals from maltreatment, animals will still be treated poorly and abused

in such lab settings. Animals have contributed so much to the biomedical research

platform already that scientists and engineers are excited to learn more for animal testing

over the years to come that they would not be able to learn without it. Not only does

animal testing and research benefit mankind, it also benefits animals. Just one example of

how animal research has benefited animals was the discovery of the cat leukemia

vaccine. This vaccine was discovered while researching HIV/AIDS in the laboratory.

Animal testing and research over the years has saved countless lives with the

treatments and medications it has produced. The research has allowed scientists to take a
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look at different treatments from a better view than they would be able to view from a lab

simulation or in vitro experiments. In vitro experiments are performed in test tubes and

plastic dishes. These studies usually use tissues or cells obtained from animals or people.

When scientists study living cells in laboratory containers, they cannot reproduce the

whole, complex, interactive system that is present in an animal or a human. In vitro

experiments are helpful in that they can help scientists create tests to take to animal tests.

The animals tests are necessary to obtain precise and accurate results that could be

helpful in a real world setting. Certain animals are also very similar to humans in the way

their bodies function. Chimpanzees share ninety-nine percent of their DNA with humans,

and mice are ninety-eight percent genetically similar to humans(Animal Research). All

mammals, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, and all have the

same set of organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs and so on, that function in essentially

the same way with the help of a bloodstream and central nervous system. Animals and

humans are very biologically similar, therefore they are susceptible to many of the same

conditions and illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and certain chronic

diseases(Andrews). Testing on animals is one of the most accurate ways to obtain

information about disease and find a cure that works to combat it. Even though animal

testing has saved countless lives and is the most effective way to find cures or treatments,

some people are still against the idea because they believe that the animals are not taken

care of or treated poorly when tested upon(Bad). That is not the case.
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The animals used for testing are treated with care. They are given the attention

they need. According to Nature Genetics, "...stressed or crowded animals produce

unreliable research results, and many phenotypes are only accessible in contented animals

in enriched environments, it is in the best interests of the researchers not to cut corners or

to neglect welfare issues."(Animal Testing ). Most animal research facilities provide the

animals with opportunities to exercise, play and socialize with caretakers and other dogs

within the facility. Organizations such as Americans for Medical Progress or AMP

support the responsible and humane use of animals in laboratory settings. AMP endorses

the “3Rs” when it comes to animal testing. Refinement of tests so animal distress and/or

pain is minimal, reduction of the number of animals used in a study, and the replacement

whenever possible, meaning they stand behind the development of new techniques and

experiments to minimize the use of animals in the laboratory. Animal testing, as of today,

is the most accurate way to test and examine new treatments. Due to the lack of other

alternatives, regulations and laws are in place to make sure that animal experimentation is

ethical. In 1996, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) was passed to ensure that the testing is

regulated in the United States(Animal Research). These laws specify different conditions

and environment standards that animal testing facilities must meet. These specifications

include how large enclosures must be, temperature standards, and access to food and

water. The Animal Welfare Act also specifies that regular inspections are to be done by

veterinarians to ensure that the regulations are met and conditions are humane. Another

statistic to consider when discussing the pros and cons of animal testing is the relatively
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small number of animals actually used in the research. To put it in perspective,

Americans eat nine billion chickens, one hundred fifty million cattle, pigs and sheep

annually. Only about twenty six million animals are exposed to research, ninety five

percent of which are rodents, birds, and fish. We eat more than one thousand eight

hundred times the number of pigs than the number of animals used in research(Forty).

Animal testing does not only benefit humans in the process. Many advances in

animal medical research have been made over the years of testing. Animal studies

continue to play a crucial part in veterinary research. Dozens of diseases from cancer to

epilepsy, affect both animals and humans. Practically all biomedical research with lab

animals advances veterinary medicine along with human medical care. This research

helps pets and wildlife live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Without animal research,

millions of dogs, cats, birds, and livestock would be dead from more than two hundred

diseases, including anthrax, distemper, rabies, feline leukemia, and canine parvovirus

according to Americans for Medical Progress(Andrews).

Relieving pain and suffering of all species, animal or human, is the ultimate goal

of animal testing. In order to achieve this goal, we must learn everything we can about

disease and illness in order to then learn how to put an end to the suffering and sickness.

Animals have a very important role in research, testing, and education for the continued

improvement of human and animal health and welfare. Researchers seek to relieve

suffering by enhancing the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Animal
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research has lead to new discoveries for humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife(Medical).

There are many regulations and laws put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of

the animals being put to these tests. Animal tests are necessary because researchers must

be able to see and understand how a treatment will work under whole body conditions as

opposed to a lab simulation. Many animals have DNA that is closely related to that of

human-beings that they make the perfect test subjects in the development of new

treatments and developing new insights in different fields of research. Animal testing

benefits humans and animals and raises medicine and treatment to new heights. Animal

testing in the United States is a controversial topic with many Americans on the opposing

side of the argument. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the fact that animal-based research

has been a part of virtually every medical discovery for the past one hundred years, and

that even in this time of rapid technological advances, animal studies remain a necessary

component of scientific advancement today and for the foreseeable future.

Works Cited
Andrews, Lindsey. “Pros and Cons of Animal Testing - Does It Really Work?” Green
Growing, Green and Growing, 12 May 2017, 12:03 pm,
www.greenandgrowing.org/pros-cons-animal-testing/. 6 Dec. 2017.
“Animal Research.” AMP, AMP, www.amprogress.org/animal-research/faqs/. 5 Dec.
2017.
“Animal Testing.” ProCon.org, ProCon.org, 2 Nov. 2017, 10:01:49 AM PST, animal-
testing.procon.org/. 6 Dec. 2017.
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“Animal Testing Is Bad Science: Point/Counterpoint.” Peta, Peta,

www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-bad-
science/. 6 Dec. 2017.
“Forty Reasons Why We Need Animals in Research.” Understanding Animal Research,
Understanding Animal Research, 1 Aug. 2017, 12:19,
www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/about-us/science-action-network/forty-
reasons-why-we-need-animals-in-research/. 6 Dec. 2017.
“Medical Research with Animals.” Animal Research, National Institute of Health,
grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/air/AnimalResearchFS06.pdf. 5 Dec. 2017.