The Pros And Cons Of Animal Research

For years, scientists have experimented with animals to study how diseases and disabilities affect them. Take neurologist Thomas Gennarelli for example. Dr. Thomas Gennarelli used primates as test subjects. For a little bit over 15 years, he bashed primates to imitate head injuries in human beings. He believed the results of his experiments would be beneficial in the future on how we should treat head injuries. The team that worked for him recorded the data via videotapes. Unfortunately, as much as he tried, Thomas Gennarelli flopped and could not create duplicate head injuries. In 1984, participants of the Animal Liberation Front broke into the University of Pennsylvania’s Medical school and swindled the tapes that’s withheld the data from the experiments. They edited the tapes to show the most gruesome abuses of the primates and submitted it to People for Ethical Treatments of Animals. Peta then submitted it to Congress and the media. Participants of these experiments claimed they appease the primates with drugs, so they would feel not pain. The videotapes told a different story. Just before the hammer smashed their heads, the primates tried to escape. The researchers used foul language and performed unsanitary procedures upon the primates. They mocked and chuckled at attentive primates with broken arms. The National Institutes of Health analyzed the videotapes. Thomas Gennarelli was condemned of 9 charges such as unacceptable veterinary care and lack of guidance for the

Everyone has benefited from the use of animal research in one way or another. My sister was diagnosed with asthma when born and without the help of animal research asthma would still be incurable. Experiencing this history with my sister I went into this research with a large bias for animal research. I found that research on animals is not a new discussion, “[h]umans have been using other vertebrate animal species…as models of their anatomy and physiology since the dawn of medicine.” (Franco 239) The ancient Greeks used animals for experiments with no question of morality ever being raised because of their “ranking in the scala naturae (the chain of being).” (Franco) Every major era came with a new dispute over how to handle animal

People often use animals for a lot of experiments even though most people think that is it wrong. People make up countless excuses to why it’s okay to do this. But it is not okay. Animal researchers and such agree with my opinion that using animals for tests that we as humans would never want to do, is bad and very hypocritical, yet unfortunately there are just as many scientists who say that it is completely fine and that there isn’t really much harm brought to the animals. Mind you, these scientists have apparently never owned a beloved pet close to their heart. The two essays, "Animal Rights, Human Wrongs" by Tom Regan and "Proud to be Speciesist" by Stephen Rose, talk about the issue of animal rights, but are written on completely opposing

("Americans are living longer, healthier, lives and we owe much of that success to biomedical research.") Dr. Robert Palazzo

In regards to animal research, my opinion is that it is extremely beneficial to medical and cosmetic research, but there should be regulations in order to ensure that these subjects are treated as humanely as possible. Cosmetic testing is a type of animal testing in which cosmetic companies will test the safety of their products for human use. This will allow the cosmetic company to determine if a certain product causes any rashes, reactions, etc. Animal testing for medical research is the use of non-human test subjects in order to observe how certain variables will affect the subject. For example, a researcher would give an experimental medication to mice in order to observe the effects of that medication on their behavior, biological system, offspring, etc. Overall, there are several pros and cons to animal testing for cosmetic and medical research, but the pros outweigh the cons. Regardless of one’s opinion on animal testing, the pros/benefits obtained from this type of testing are extremely hard to refute (Tappenden 1). Animal testing has contributed to countless cures and treatments that have saved thousands, if not millions, of human lives. For example, insulin was discovered through an experiment conducted on dogs that had their pancreases removed. Without this experiment, millions of diabetic patients would have been negatively affected or died. In addition, animal testing is a viable option because it provides researchers with a living test subject that is genetically and biologically similar to humans and it allows researchers to study a test subject throughout their entire lifespan as well as their offspring. The benefit of using animals that are genetically and biological similar to humans is that they are affected by many of the same diseases, conditions, and disorders. In regards to studying these subject’s entire lifespan, it is extremely beneficial that researchers are able to see the effects over an entire lifespan and their offspring’s lifespan because it gives us a glimpse into an area we wouldn’t have been able to observe prior to animal testing. If we were to complete testing on humans, who live about 70-80 years on average, this would not allow researchers and scientists to see the

As society grows with age, it strives to advance in all areas of life. With the turn of the century, a major advancement in all aspects of science, including medicine, is to use laboratory animals to test potentially dangerous substances and research if the substances would be compatible with humans. Many people have issues with animal testing as they believe it is inhumane to use animals to put them in potentially dangerous situations. However, much progress has been made using animal research. The information gained from animal research has paved the road to everything from hair restoration to cancer treatments. Animal research has progressed humanity into new levels it could only dream of and should remain an essential practice.

Today’s society is focused on the affects of diseases on the human body, and how to prevent the side effects associated with the disease. The controversial topic of using animals as research subjects is highly debated of whether it is necessary to save lives or inhumane to the animals. Every year, animals are experimentally used to determine the effectiveness, side effects, toxicity and safety of medications. Personally, I was aware of the testing being done on animals, but did not know much about it, and was therefore indifferent in the debate. However, after doing research, I have come to the conclusion that the cons outweigh the pros and animal testing is inhumane.

Many do not like the fact that people test on animals but, it needs to be done. Animal research has played a vital role in almost every medical advancement in the last 100 years. A survey given by the American Medical Association found that 99% of physicians believe that animal research leads to medical advancements. Testing on animals has helped develop vaccines for many serious diseases such as herpes Simplex, hepatitis B, polio, rabies, malaria, mumps, virus-related conditions, and organ transplantation rejection (The surprising Pros of Animal Testing). Another advancement in medical treatment is heartworm medication. This discovery has saved millions of dogs across the globe. There are many more medications for animals that are used

In conclusion, animal research has both its pros and it also has its cons. Both sides of the argument have valid foundation on which they base their arguments. Maybe animal testing is a good thing, marked with too much perceived cruelty. But, maybe it is a matter of direct abuse, with over-exaggerated outcomes being revealed to cover what is really going on. The sides chosen by others depends on their moral choices and human animal relationship that they experience. Whatever the view taken by the policy maker, politicians, and the groups arguing for or against, two things are clear: Animals should not be made to suffer needlessly, and animal research has reach wonderful treatments that have made the world a better place.

The battle over whether it is justified for animals to be used for research is vicious. Animal activist organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) release gory images of animals that are deemed harmless (such as rabbits or puppies) in order to aid their argument that animal testing is inhumane. Those who support animal testing question the validity of the photos, countering the argument with statistical information of the good that animal experimentation has done, for humans and animals alike. In the center of the debate is the portion of the scientific community that relies on animal testing to prove that the substances that they created will not be harmful to people. In the scientists’ view, the method has no

Animals go through experiments for human gain; therefore, the groups of people that love animals are taking up for them because the creatures do not have a voice of their own. Today in animal experimentation approximately 50 to 100 animals worldwide undergo experimentation each year (Driscoll). When animals are being experimented on they let out loud cries and the scientist can sit their and their heart not melt it is cruel and inhumane. The scientist do not care what happens to the animals, but if it was their animals they would probably cry because animals help humans in everyday life and all humans do is hurt them. The animals in labs get toxic substances put in their eyes and are forced to inhale. Also, animals in labs get addicted to the

The article Nine Out of Ten describes about how research contradictory results with animal researchers failing the tests. The articles claims that the animals tests do not work and that “92% percent of animal trials do not work”(Tom, 2008) the FDA as trouble with the test actually working on a human being. The article wants to explain that animal research does not work and that it proofs that animals are not a accurate models for humans do too the different genetics. The statistic according to the article is misleading most of the drugs are being misunderstood and most tests are being taken out of context. The article also suggested that “92% percent of

Since the beginning of researching animals, there have been many different opinions on the subject. Many people argue that animal testing is inhumane and unfair to the animals. However, animals are a very important factor in health advances and are necessary for furthering the knowledge of humans. There are laws and organizations such as the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that strive to protect animals from any type of harm during their laboratory lives. Though there are many pros and cons of animal research, tests ran on animals are only for the benefit of humans. Some of the experiments may seem cruel, but there are new technologies forming which will help reduce the amount of animals used in research.

Throughout the years research centers have been using animals as a base of study. They have genetically modified conditions for animals in order to gain knowledge for treatments or human diseases. Animal experimentation is the use of non-human animals in experiments that are controlled by variables that can affect the animals biologically. The animals are used to test makeup products, drug products, or curiosity-driven experimentation. These are only a couple of areas where animals are used for the personal gain of another species. Throughout the years more people have argued about animal experimentation being ethical. The reason why it has become such a big issue is because of how social media has grown throughout the years now people can search what really happens to animals who are experimented on.The real question is whether animal experimentation is necessary. Depending on people's beliefs some may say that it is necessary for the advancement of the human race,but others may say it is not necessary need because of other factors that contribute into it and for me personally animal experimentation is not a necessary option we have to take because of the endless possibilities of other things. ,

“Studies published in prestigious medical journals have shown time and again that animal experimenters are often wasting lives—both animal and human—and precious resources by trying to infect animals with diseases that they would never normally contract (Animal Rights).” This upsetting fact could be prevented if laws were passed to end animal testing. Animal experimentation should be made illegal because innocent animals are being harmed and or killed daily, medicines do not have the same effect on animals as they do people, and animal experimentation is expensive.