Since ancient times, animals have been experimented on by humans. The greeks used animals to advance anatomical study and further understanding of the body. Starting in the twelfth century, surgical procedures were tested and studied using animals. Because anesthetics were only greatly introduced in the mid- nineteenth century, the animals suffered through every cut and every poke (Scutti, Susan).
Those who argue that animal experimentation is necessary claim that treatments for diseases like polio, diabetes, hepatitis B, several types of cancer, malaria, and tuberculosis wouldn’t have been formulated without the use of animal research. They also claim that the complexities of the human organ system cannot be replicated to the fullest extent
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According to the Animal Welfare Act, the only federal act addresses the treatment of animals, the only limitation laboratories and research facilities have on their ability to test on animals is that their facilities must be registered and licensed. Moreover, the AWA doesn’t actually prohibit companies from using animals as testers, so those animals have no protection under the law. On top of that, 95% of animals used in tests are not protected under the AWA. This means that rats, mice, fish, birds, and other similar animals are not covered under the act (Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?).
The government currently spends close to 14.5 million dollars on animal research and 47% of all research funding has an animal component involved. In fact, alternative testing costs much less than animal testing (Feds spend up to $14.5 billion annually on animal testing). The use of synthetic livers are cheaper, quicker, and more accurate than the use of animals.(Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?). So the preceding information bring up the question: what can the government do to change the way companies conduct research to make it more humane and