Animal Testing

Introduction

Animal testing has been a controversial subject for as long as one can remember. Many people are confused as to what animal testing really is, why it causes so many controversies or disputes, and the numbers used. Companies have a way of disguising what exactly is going on behind their closed doors, and so few people have a clear understanding as to what really occurs during these alleged animal tests.

Analysis

Animal testing is the use of non-human animals in scientific experimentation. Most of the animals used in these experiments or tests are purpose bred; however, some may be caught in the wild or supplied by dealers who obtain them from auctions or pounds. On the opposing side of the issue, opponents like the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, question the of animal testing due to the fact that it is animal cruelty, a poor scientific practice, never a reliably predictive of human metabolic and physiological specificities, and poorly regulated. They also believe that the cost outweighs the so called benefits and that the animals have an intrinsic right not to be used for experimentation (Fano, pp 34-128).

The regulations for animal testing in labs vary by species. Under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act and the National Institutes of Health's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals any procedure can be performed if a scientific justification can be successfully determined in the U.S. Mice, rats, and birds are not included in the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act. Apparently the term animal is very relative. Over the years, Congress's definition of the word animal has changed multiple types to ensure that certain animals are included in the protective legislation and that others, such as farm animals, are excluded (Steinbach, 69-73).

Invertebrates are most often used in animal testing for various reasons. The main three reasons are simple and self-explanatory. Firstly, the testing of invertebrates is largely unregulated by law. Invertebrates also have a short life span, meaning that a scientist can easily test multiple generations in a short period of time. For this very reason, invertebrates can be studied in large numbers with ease. As with everything, there are downsides to testing with invertebrates as well. One disadvantage being that most invertebrates lack an adaptive immune system, meaning that they are incapable of building an immunity to any diseases. This not only kills them off in some cases, but also makes it harder for scientists to use numerous medications. With this stated, it can easily be understood why invertebrates are not able to be used for medical research. Lastly, invertebrates have simple organs, differentiating their anatomy from the human anatomy (Shevell, Judith L. and James, 65-68).

The average number of rats and mice that are being used in animal testing is estimated to be twenty million a year. Mice are the most common due to multiple reasons. First of all, their size, low ost, ease of handling, and fast reproductive rate make them the most ...