Drug Testing on Animals
The way animals are treated has always been heavily debated. With advancements in technology and information being just one touch away, the topic of animal rights is becoming more popular and remains as controversial as ever. One argument discusses whether or not using animals for research is ethical. Some groups, like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), will say that animal research must be stopped. However, scientists and other researchers assert that animal testing is essential. Although animal experimentation has some negative aspects, it is a reliable method for advancements in human medicine. First of all, the close DNA structures between animals and humans mean the testing on animals relates
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Even though the medical world is constantly making critical advancements with animal testing, new alternative methods are available that can replace animal experimentation. Different ways of experimenting are now available that substitute the use of animals. According to the article “Should Animals Be Used for Scientific or Commercial Testing?”, examples include petri dish testing, which is studying human cell samples, and microdosing, which is testing on humans with microscopic doses (animal-testing.procon.org). Petri dish testing and microdosing eliminates the use of animals by testing directly on humans without being harmful. As time goes on, the need for these alternative methods is growing stronger. Dr. Charles Mayo, the founder of the Mayo Clinic, insists, “I abhor vivisection [experimentation on animals]. It should at least be curbed. Better it should be abolished. I know of no achievement through vivisection, no scientific discovery, that could not have been obtained without such barbarism and cruelty. The whole thing is evil.” One way that the government could curb animal experimentation would be to encourage the use of alternative research