Animal testing has played a vital role in nearly every medical breakthrough over the last century; put simply, it is a MUST for modern healthcare. The issue of safety is just one of many which plagues innovation in the medical sector, and this is where animal testing proves vital - medicine, medical devices and newfound surgical procedures all require a high degree of certainty before they can be administered to humans.
On paper, animal testing is the holy grail of the medical realm, assisting scientists in whatever they set their mind to. It provides an almost exact representation of the human anatomy whilst remaining the most ethical way of further progressing medicine and health. After all, if we don’t experiment on animals, who exactly are we going to experiment on?
First things first, what does animal testing contribute to? Just to name a few; drug development, the discovery and refinement of new surgical procedures, and healthcare devices like pacemakers. It improves human health, full stop. In fact, animal testing is SO effective that the California Biomedical Research Association has pegged it to almost every lifesaving discovery of the last century.
What do YOU believe is more ethical? Subjecting humanity to an eternity of suffering, or persisting in the vision of curing disease once and for all - at the MINOR, humane, and beneficial expense of a VERY small amount of lab animals, 97% of those in the UK being mice, rats, fish and birds.
To delve further into WHY animal testing is necessary, let’s take a glance at the drug Penicillin. On the search for antibacterial substances, its founder faced the dilemma of toxicity. Taking no second thoughts at the time, he rushed to inject two mice with the drug, they remained healthy and he continued his research – Penicillin proved to be a miracle.
However, this isn’t always the case. Drugs pose an unprecedented risk of toxicity. Had the experiment gone wrong, which is unfortunately the fate of many other drug trials, testing could’ve proved fatal and resulted in the death of LIVING, BREATHING human beings – but that doesn’t matter, right? Scientists needed a living, whole body system to complete these tests; there’s simply no workaround or alternative.
Animal testing has substantially contributed to our wellbeing; from helping to eradicate smallpox, which killed 300 to 500 million in the 20th century, to providing a solution for diabetes sufferers who would otherwise be dead; it has revolutionized our ability to treat human and animal ailments, directly saving millions of lives in the process.
With ethics committees solely dedicated to ensuring that the benefits of research outweigh animal suffering, there is simply no doubt that Australia (and other first world countries) has some of the highest standards of laboratory animal welfare in the world.
Our ideology is underpinned by a legal set of guidelines known as the 3Rs - reduction, replacement and refinement. Researchers are legally obliged to reduce the numbers of animals used in research, refine their experimental techniques to minimise pain and stress, and above all, only carry out the research when there’s no suitable alternative.
Furthermore, any animal testing that occurs in Australia must be critiqued against a strict range of conditions and requirements by a professional before commencement. Animals MUST be provided with adequate shelter and living conditions, and trialled in the most humane manner possible.
Animal research hasn't benefited humans alone. Everything from farm animals to household pets, wild and endangered species are all reaping the benefits from crucial information deduced from animals. Subsequently, all walks of life are now experiencing reduced instances of sickness and disease. Conceivably, the most confronting aspect of it all is that animal testing has actually rescued endangered species like the black-footed ferret from the brink of extinction.
Some may argue that success in animal experimentation doesn’t necessarily equate to success in human safety. And while this is true in a minority of cases, there is simply no equally reliable alternative, this is precisely why we NEED animal testing.
So-called animal rights activists are quick to highlight flaws, but they sure don’t offer any solution to the issues that they identify. If you believe animal testing is cruel and unusual, then consider this. More farm animals are eaten by humans as food than the entire animal population used for research, how HYPOCRITICAL! With consideration to the advancement of healthcare, it is a small price to pay. To elaborate, for every chicken researched, an equivalent of 340 are used as food. Boy, are we quick to judge.
Having yielded exceptional results in the past, animal testing is a scientifically sound research method. It HAS and will continue to save a potentially limitless amount of human and animal lives. At society’s current point in time, it is PARAMOUNT that we continue our quest for immortality and the end of suffering.
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I work at a lab that produces genetically modified mice and I can guarantee that some of the work we have done has produced treatments that have saved peoples lives. We are always looking to reduce the amount of animals we use in cloning and breeding as we do not wish to harm any more animals than necessary.
Your lab produces genetically manipulated shitmice and you are talking about saving lives? I hope u dont believe what you are writing here bro. :'D Or maybe the trolls are already at steemit? That would be so fucking shitty.
Obviously you don't grasp what genetic modification does to mice and rats. I'm sure you have a frankensteinish vision of it (like many people do), which is far from the truth.
Genetic modification usually targets only a specific gene to study one specific metabolic pathway. Some modifications can improve the animal's health, and some don't. The EXACT same thing happens with humans naturally or artificially (pollution, exposure, genetic diseases, etc), and understanding the cellular mechanism helps in the development of cures. I hope you find this enlightening.
this is a very old version of the real facts.
Great to hear. The least harm done to the animals, the better.
I definitely agree. Animal studies are needed to help establish a broad idea of safety and efficacy before and if we move onto human trials. The face of medicine today would be very different if we were unable to use animals for testing.
Even though it has produced results -- we are at a critical juncture where we have the capability to create new ways to solve our problems.
This article is older, but this is the direction I want to see our society going in. There is no reason why we should continue to harm other species when we have new problem solving methods.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/25/online-gamers-solving-sciences-biggest-problems
Your argument is sound, but rationalizing something does not make it right. I mean we could argue that society should remain divided based on a class system, and I could present a well argued and sound reason for it, but does that make my sound argument the right thing to do?
Humans think they are above all others. Come the day when the tables will turn we will realize what we have brought onto ourselves.
Animal testing should be banned! this is inhumane.
Wrong, read my comment below.
That may well be the case but you'd almost certainly be dead if it wasn't for the contribution that animals have made to the medical sector. Entire species of animals have also been saved from the testing of their own species, as well as rescued from the brink of extinction. Lastly, regulations surrounding the practice make it as humane as possible.
it would be nice to test all this toxic "medicine" at your body, you can do nothing against it, but hey we do it humane as possible for you!
watch this
in full, and then see what you think. As above so below.This whole topic is polemic. More people should watch this video to have a better understandment of the matter.
agreed! and agreed!
its sad how animals need to sacrifice themselves for the sake of mankind. I wish there is an alternative way to get this better in the future :(:(
they don't sacrifice themselves - come on, your positive thinking is laden with denial here. they are abused, tortured and killed against their WILL!
Breaks my heart.
Would be better if we could run all this testing through a simulation.
Yes i agree with you. The only way for things to get better is when we are awaken to reality.
It's an interesting topic to tackle. Almost like saying, "sun bathing extends your life because it makes you feel good."
Makes you think.
Rats with red eyes are always weird, but it's a solid photo, so you've got that going for you. Thanks for the alt-perspective.
Gaze upon it!
Someone promoted your post. Promotions help every steemians.
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Promoted! ;)It is never ok in any circumstance to hold someone against there will and torture, mutilate, and kill them. Animals feel pain. Animals feel love. Animals feel fear. Animals do not want to do die. Just like us.
Well written article~ Animal testing are indeed cruel but critical for drug development. Anyone who benefits from modern medicine should not forget all the animals that were sacrificed behind the drug/ surgery they had.
I personally are grateful for the animal testing for life saving drugs, but really upset with the fact that animal testings were used in the beauty industry, for cosmetic test as well as plastic surgery testings. Those are not life and death matters and we human should not sacrifice animals for aesthetic purpose....
Thank you for the compliment. I totally agree, we shouldn't be sacrificing animal lives for the beauty industry, that's absolute rubbish. We also need to minimise animal suffering as much as possible, which seems to be happening lately as computer modelling advances.
It is an unfortunate truth at this point that animal models are a necessary evil. Unless people think direct experimentation on humans is a good idea, and if you do, do you realize that biological science is difficult and preliminary tests on humans would result in massive loss of life?
As technology progresses, it is my hope that animal models can be phased out, but until that time it is indeed here to stay. To my and many others dismay.
Yeah. But unfortunately, as I read the other comments here, so many people say how hurting animals is not excusable. Without any mention of the currently available alternative - don't treat diseases. I find that alternative incomparably less excusable. I care for the lab animals and I don't want to see them suffer, but I care even more for all people and other animals in the world. And I don't understand how the people who are against animal testing for medical purposes don't see how not doing it would mean massive suffering for all of humanity.
Obviously the solution is to phase out animal models through technology. If you really care about the animals, please join efforts with the people who work on that. Real care is when you work on it.
Thank you for the post, @invictus636.
"After all, if we don’t experiment on animals, who exactly are we going to experiment on?" VOLUNTEER HUMANS. lol. But I get your point and agree. Well written too.
Edit: oh shit, this is your first post. Welcome to steemit! Introduce yourself!!
Thank you :) Thought I'd switch up from the usual Steemit meta-posts uploaded to the platform.
Edit: not much to introduce 😄
I've been into crypto since 2014 and aspire to eventually become a writer. Steemit looks like a great platform for me to brush up on my skills and earn some money in the process. What I'm really looking for, however, is constructive criticism. If anyone has any suggestions or comments regarding my work, please, throw them my way!
Volunteer human could solve some of the issue only, afterall there are thousands of drugs being research and develop by different pharmaceutical companies, and getting enough patients of the right conditions are difficult.
And when it comes to human life, its usually get much more complicated when a new experimental drug went wrong. (if not test prior on animals, the toxicity might only be revealed when human test subject were used and that might lead to death)
recent example: https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/08/french-fatal-clinical-trial-off-target/
I totally agree with you, animal testing is a great way to test all kinds of medical and pharmaceutical appliances. Also, because a lot of animals also breed a lot quicker than (in respect) humans do, the consequences, of some drugs and medical appliances, can be monitored on later generations (a lot quicker).
Although, I must say that I find the testing of cosmetical products on animals horrific. Those tests should be done on humans in my perspective.
Surely the benefits of animal testing can not be undervalued. As for the alternatives, there are good alternatives to animal testing. One of them being that hard core criminals, terrorists etc. should be used as test subjects, instead of innocent animals. They don't contribute much to the society, even in jails. So better use them as subjects for various animal testing! :)
I'm a scientist and I worked with lab animals during my studies. I can assure you they are treated in the most humane ways, with very rigid standards (at least in my country). They're even treated better than the poor people! Their importance for medical breakthroughs are crucial; we can either bitch about that and live in a medieval way dying by age 40, or accept their sacrifice while we embrace our modern way of life and live beyond 80. So let's not be hypocritical.
Animal testing is a necessary evil as you've pointed out. No one likes the idea but we're unable to do the same type of testing in lab simulations that we can do with a living creature. it's either that or live humans. Maybe some day in the future we will hopefully have better options.
I think it is an unfortunate reality that animal testing is needed. I would prefer risking the life of a rat than risking the life of my child.
If your child's healthy they likely wouldn't need any obscure drugs and testing to see if their shampoo causes a rash or irritation by putting it in mice eyes doesn't really help your child at all.
A huge portion of animal testing is done on chimps/monkeys/dogs. Most in fact. I'd still execute a whole animal shelter for a baby girl, but I'm not going to fool around and say that's the right thing to do. It really probably isn't and it's really discriminatory, but goddammit I like little girls more than cats and dogs and odds are most of them will be killed anyways.
My child needs medication. I just think that although I don't like it, It is better that it be tested in animals than risk a child's life.
These lab mice save soo many lives. We are lucky for their existence!
I agree that animal testing for new medicines and treatments is necessary, the only thing I have a problem with is cosmetic testing:)
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Would it be as cruel if the animal was a clone?
Nice! Your first post was already earned $4 dollar since you join!
As computing continues to mature, animal testing might eventually be replaced by simulations. Until then, this is a necessary evil to continue advancing medicine and science.
So you're cool with a more advanced race of beings coming to Earth and using humans for medical research. It's theoretical as far as we know but you then have to be willing to volunteer for the greater good of another species to be mass produced and used in experiments. Are you willing to do that? I really doubt any clear thinking person would volunteer to do that. And I know that the animals that are being used by "researchers" did not volunteer. It's cruel, barbaric and unnecessary. Keep your murder cures and your rationalizations. I don't want any part of them.
what you don't yet understand is that the collective will of living beings can only take so much overpowering. it is only through healing and accepting the will instead of overpowering it that you will find balance.
잘 읽었습니다. 😃
Animal testing while beneficial sometimes is largely useless and most of all absolutely unnecessary. Most testing is done on silly things to prevent a rash in a shampoo or to test what happens when someone is hit at (X) G's, etc.
Most of it's just cruel disgusting behavior only a truly sadist could do who also so happens to be a sociopath.
So, if a monkey is just as concious as us its still ok to guage their eyes out and tie them up and torture them in horrific ways because a human wouldnt consent to it.
Wouldn't it be more effective and humane to experiment on willing humans? Or criminals in prison for life and on death row? It certainly would produce more accurate results with less steps and innocents suffering without consent.
I recommend reading The Monkey Business of Laboratory Animals. Think it will speak to you :)
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I understand that animal testing is a significant part of medical device testing, but isn't there a way to do it more gently, without causing these poor creatures so much pain?