Pros And Cons Of Animal Testing

Critical Test In the year 1988, there were 350,000 cases of Polio. In 2012, there were only 223 (“Poliomyelitis). This large decrease in the number of cases of Poliomyelitis is due largely to the efforts of research scientists and the development of vaccines and the improvement of those vaccines. Perhaps just as important as the scientists in this case are the animal subjects in the testing. Animal testing in the scientific arena is vital to the successful discovery of new vaccines, the improvement of old vaccines, development of cures for currently endemic diseases, genetic issues, and more. The subject of animal testing has long been a hot-button topic in both the scientific community and the community-at-large. Many say that animal …show more content…
Animal testing is also the most effective way to test new medical advancements. Animal testing has quite a few advantages that other forms of research simply do not have. For example, one major advantage is the fact that there is not true alternative or replacement for a true living, whole-body system that animal research testing provides. Living creatures, animals and humans alike, are complex beings. Theoretical models, simply cannot replicate the complexities of a real, living system, nor can it replicate the inherent unpredictability. The use of live animals allows the research scientist to anticipate future issues with viability and efficacy. The scientist can view potential health problems and the effectiveness of the object being tested in real time, without risk to human …show more content…
This research has saved millions of lives. It has helped to eradicate endemics, it has cured diseases, and it has led to fantastic technological breakthroughs that have greatly improved the quality of life of many humans, and will continue to do so for centuries to come. These advancements could not be made without the help and sacrifice of the animals involved. Animal testing is the most effective way to glean this information and to propagate these advancements in medical science. Closed system simulations and in vitro studies cannot come close to replicating the success that whole-body, living animal testing has produced. While some may consider animal testing to be unethical, it can be argued that many steps have been taken to make these studies as humane as possible. It is also clear that studies on humans are less desirable and ethical than tests on animals. The future of medicine lies with these animals. In the years to come, animal research may yield the keys to curing cancer, HIV, influenza, heart disease, Alzheimer’s dementia, tissue, regeneration, and many more. Blocking the use of animal testing would undoubtedly mean the loss of millions of additional human lives. Animal testing is