Scientific Materials on Animal Testing: Resources for Students

Animal testing is a controversial topic. Proponents say that without it, certain medical discoveries would not have been made. These include the development of antibiotics and insulin therapy. They also attribute the development of new surgical techniques and medical devices to it.

Many citizens are concerned about animal testing. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are vehemently opposed to it. They believe it is cruel and that most of it does not lead to improvements in human health. The difference between humans and non-human species is too great for such studies to have meaningful results.

Students may have to write argumentative essays to support their opinions about the topic. The following resources can help them to do so.

Animal testing ethics

In 2022 the US Senate ended the requirement for experimental medicines to be tested on animals before human trials. Many scientists don’t share PETA’s stance. But they do support the framework of the “three Rs” – refine, replace, and reduce animal use.

Ethical considerations regarding animal experimentation is a review published online in October 2022. It looks at some of the ethical considerations when doing animal-based research. It also gives requirements for investigator training. The authors believe that further research is necessary to provide robust alternatives to animal testing. Until then, scientists can’t discontinue it.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Over 800 scientists, physicians etc., belong to a non-profit organization called PCRM. They are calling for the medical journal Nutrients to stop publishing certain animal studies. The group points out in a letter how the journal violates its own ethical guidelines. It continues to publish studies that include small animal testing. This happens, although alternatives are available. PCRM advocates replacing the use of animal tests with modern methods.

Free essay examples 

Students searching for information can find free essay examples about animal testing on Gradesfixer online service. An analysis of these essays can help them to uncover themes and ideas for their own essays. They can reference the samples for the right formatting and styling. If they can’t find the topics they need, they can get an expert writer to write an essay for them. They need to give the writer information about the type of paper they require, describe the specific requirements, and state the deadline.

Will more public input help to resolve difficulties?

Justifiability and Animal Research in Health: Can democratization help resolve difficulties? This research by Shaun Yon-Seng Khoo was published online in Feb. 2018. The author says that scientists justify use in medical research as they believe the benefits to human health outweigh the harm. However, an increasing proportion of people do not feel it is justified. The author believes that more public input will help to ensure that research using animals meets public expectations.

The alternatives 

Modernizing Medical Research to Benefit People and Animals by Isobel Hutchinson, Carla Owen and Jarrod Bailey was published in May 2022. The researchers go into the growing range of modern techniques. These methods can replace the use of animals. They can provide results that are more relevant to human patients.

New methods include the use of human cells and tissues and computer-based methods. This work explores the societal benefits of accelerating the replacement of animals by using new research methods. The researchers found this approach would benefit the welfare of animals, public health, and the economy.

Controversial monkey study reignites debate

A paper called “Triggers for mother love” was authored by neuroscientist Margaret Livingstone. It was published in September 2022 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study of macaque mothers and how they bond with their infants has brought controversy to the surface again. Livingstone defends her study. She believes it will help to inform comforting interventions for mothers who lose their babies.

Opponents who condemn the study say that results rarely translate across species. Holly Root-Gutteridge, an animal behavior scientist, is an opponent. She says the study could have been done on wild macaque mothers who naturally lost their young. She urges neuroscientists to team up with behaviorists to find ways to minimize harm to animals.

Conclusion

There is growing concern among those within the scientific community about animal testing. However, many researchers are not ready to move away from it until they have robust alternatives. A move towards modern techniques, like the use of human tissues and cells, could eventually replace the use of animal testing. It’s a move that couldn’t come quickly enough for those who oppose it. But for now, the controversy is as it is and there is no solution in foresight.

Author’s Bio

Cory Shilling likes to be different from others, so he loves to take the path less trodden. He picks up offbeat areas to write in – something that many others hesitate to address. It’s mostly the issues related to students, which include the education loan, racial discrimination and violence on campuses and many more related topics.