Animal rights and experimentation has been a heated debate over the decade. Using animals for experiments date back to almost 400 years ago when William Harvey discovered how the blood circulates in bodies. Also, statistics have proven that in the past century, animal experiments have been in almost every major medical advancement according to the World Health Organization and United States Department of Health and Human Services(Scientific,2). Using animals for experimentation is not just important for research but this leads into curing complex diseases and illnesses. Not only do animals play an important role in research, but arguing that animals deserve the same rights as humans will ultimately hurt the advancement in medicine and will …show more content…
For example, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. As Parkinson’s disease progresses, the symptoms worsen and the uncontrollable movements become overwhelming. As of now, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are continuing to use animals for research and according to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, “In the past few years, Parkinson’s research has advanced to the point that halting disease progression and even preventing Parkinson’s are considered realistic goals.”(Animal,14) One of the most accurate forms of research for Parkinson’s is stem cell therapy. Stem cells are basically multicellular organisms that are capable of forming into any other cell. Using stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s research allows scientist to produce dopamine, a compound present in a body as a neurotransmitter, and testing it on mice with Parkinson’s. This type of research greatly increases the chances of scientist finding a cure for Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is not the only illness that is using animals for research. Many other illnesses are being researched on such as heart disease, hepatitis C, epilepsy and