Vicious or vital? Although animal testing is not at the forefront of political debate, it is still a polarising issue. According to Pew Research, 47% of people support experimentation on animals, whereas 50% are opposed to it. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) states that 100 million animals are used in animal testing per year in the USA alone. Data released by the Home Office, animal experimentation in the UK reached its peak in the 1970s before tailing off; however, it made a resurgence in the early 200s.
Animal testing is often used by researchers and scientists to produce drugs and medicines. The results of this research are often applauded by the medical community. Jon Klingborg, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association said, "Their contribution to life-saving advancements in medicine and science for both pets and humans is enormous. Thanks to the last century of animal research, we have achieved life-saving treatments for people and animals. As veterinarians, we are able to treat more ailments and prevent more diseases, and that allows us to keep our pets living longer and healthier."
As a direct result of animal research, polio has almost been eradicated from North America and Europe. After 40 years of experimentation on mice, rats, and monkeys, polio vaccines were developed and utilised to treat the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a worldwide vaccination programme in 1988. In the following 14 years, the number of polio cases was reduced by over 99%. In 1908, Dr. Karl Landsteiner and Dr. Erwin Popper used extracts from the spinal cord of a deceased polio victim. They replicated the disease in monkeys in order to study the effect of polio in a non-human primate. The experimentation allowed the disease to be transmitted from animal to animal. The study allowed the creation of vaccines and drugs. The study allowed the creation of vaccines and drugs today.
Despite this, animal rights activists at organisations like PETA oppose the research that led to their survival. Polio causes paralysis, but in-depth experimentation on other animals made the cases of polio almost non-existent in the developed world. PETA states, Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, and dogs... are locked... inside laboratories across the country [the United States]. They languish in pain, suffer from extreme exhaustion, ache with loneliness and long to be free."
Contrary to popular belief, animal testing is actually beneficial to animals. In an investigation conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, it was found that animal research is integral to the preservation of many endangered species. The ability to eliminate parasitism, treat illnesses, use anaesthetic devices, and promote breeding has improved the health and survival of many species. Through techniques like embryo transfer, species that are critically endangered or extinct in the wild can now be managed and maintained.
In the same book (Sciences, Medicine, and Animals)(1991), the Academies' research explores the argument that there are more accurate and ethical methods of medical research, than animal testing. It writes, "Researchers have developed replacements for some animal experiments, and the search for alternatives is continuing. But if scientists could replace a large number of animal experiments with experiments that do not use animals, they would, because are animals expensive and difficult to use... scientists do not want to experiment on animals unnecessarily. Researchers who use animals do so because that is the best way to get the appropriate information."
Animal testing is, on the whole, a force for good and has introduced many medical breakthrough that we take for granted today. If one century ago, we had decided to not try animal testing, we would most likely have a radically different public health situation today.
Animal testing is often used by researchers and scientists to produce drugs and medicines. The results of this research are often applauded by the medical community. Jon Klingborg, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association said, "Their contribution to life-saving advancements in medicine and science for both pets and humans is enormous. Thanks to the last century of animal research, we have achieved life-saving treatments for people and animals. As veterinarians, we are able to treat more ailments and prevent more diseases, and that allows us to keep our pets living longer and healthier."
As a direct result of animal research, polio has almost been eradicated from North America and Europe. After 40 years of experimentation on mice, rats, and monkeys, polio vaccines were developed and utilised to treat the disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a worldwide vaccination programme in 1988. In the following 14 years, the number of polio cases was reduced by over 99%. In 1908, Dr. Karl Landsteiner and Dr. Erwin Popper used extracts from the spinal cord of a deceased polio victim. They replicated the disease in monkeys in order to study the effect of polio in a non-human primate. The experimentation allowed the disease to be transmitted from animal to animal. The study allowed the creation of vaccines and drugs. The study allowed the creation of vaccines and drugs today.
Despite this, animal rights activists at organisations like PETA oppose the research that led to their survival. Polio causes paralysis, but in-depth experimentation on other animals made the cases of polio almost non-existent in the developed world. PETA states, Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, and dogs... are locked... inside laboratories across the country [the United States]. They languish in pain, suffer from extreme exhaustion, ache with loneliness and long to be free."
Contrary to popular belief, animal testing is actually beneficial to animals. In an investigation conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, it was found that animal research is integral to the preservation of many endangered species. The ability to eliminate parasitism, treat illnesses, use anaesthetic devices, and promote breeding has improved the health and survival of many species. Through techniques like embryo transfer, species that are critically endangered or extinct in the wild can now be managed and maintained.
In the same book (Sciences, Medicine, and Animals)(1991), the Academies' research explores the argument that there are more accurate and ethical methods of medical research, than animal testing. It writes, "Researchers have developed replacements for some animal experiments, and the search for alternatives is continuing. But if scientists could replace a large number of animal experiments with experiments that do not use animals, they would, because are animals expensive and difficult to use... scientists do not want to experiment on animals unnecessarily. Researchers who use animals do so because that is the best way to get the appropriate information."
Animal testing is, on the whole, a force for good and has introduced many medical breakthrough that we take for granted today. If one century ago, we had decided to not try animal testing, we would most likely have a radically different public health situation today.
Comments
Post a Comment