Animal experimentation in fields of product safety and pharmaceutical development is a controversial subject. Those opposed to experimentation often cite the suffering of the animals, the existence of alternate testing methods, and the unproven benefits to human beings, as support for their reasoning, well those in favor of experimentation believe that the benefits to humanity cannot be gained any other way and substantially outweigh the harm done to the animals. In the article, “Why Animal Experimentation Doesn’t Work” by Dr. Aysha Akhtar, she outlines three reasons why animal experimentation should be eliminated. Although Dr. Akhtar argues that stressed animals yield poor data, animals don’t get human diseases, and that animals are not little
…show more content…
Akhtar’s second main reason why animal experimentation doesn’t work is because animals don’t get human diseases. She points out that in the research of diabetes, the structure of the human pancreatic islet cell is dramatically different than that of the rodents studied; therefore, the study is not of human diabetes. Also, in studies on strokes, many of the drugs that were effective on animal strokes failed in humans. She states that the animal models being studied are not models of the human disease (Akhtar, Reason 2 2013). Despite the differences in human and animal diseases, animal experimentation has led to the effective treatment and cure for numerous human diseases. Polio affected humanity in the early 20th century, until a vaccine was created through the experimentation conducted on approximately 17,500 monkeys. The vaccine has been credited with the eradication of polio disease worldwide (Benefits 2014). Parkinson’s disease may one day be halted or even cured in humans do the experimentation on animals. A new stem cell line is being developed and tested in mice, which will have the ability to produce and grow the dopamine-producing cells that reverse the effects of the disease. Also, a family of proteins that dramatically improve symptoms by producing dopamine, have been discovered through animal testing (Research Benefits 2016). These advancements evidence the effectiveness of animal experimentation, regardless of differences in animal and human diseases.
Akhtar’s second main reason why animal experimentation doesn’t work is because animals don’t get human diseases. She points out that in the research of diabetes, the structure of the human pancreatic islet cell is dramatically different than that of the rodents studied; therefore, the study is not of human diabetes. Also, in studies on strokes, many of the drugs that were effective on animal strokes failed in humans. She states that the animal models being studied are not models of the human disease (Akhtar, Reason 2 2013). Despite the differences in human and animal diseases, animal experimentation has led to the effective treatment and cure for numerous human diseases. Polio affected humanity in the early 20th century, until a vaccine was created through the experimentation conducted on approximately 17,500 monkeys. The vaccine has been credited with the eradication of polio disease worldwide (Benefits 2014). Parkinson’s disease may one day be halted or even cured in humans do the experimentation on animals. A new stem cell line is being developed and tested in mice, which will have the ability to produce and grow the dopamine-producing cells that reverse the effects of the disease. Also, a family of proteins that dramatically improve symptoms by producing dopamine, have been discovered through animal testing (Research Benefits 2016). These advancements evidence the effectiveness of animal experimentation, regardless of differences in animal and human diseases.