The Benefits of Animal Experimentation

1017 Words3 Pages

Dominic Wells from the Royal Veterinary College said: “We are in an era of developing treatments for rare diseases in a way that we could not have predicted five years ago. We are the victims of our own success and this has inevitably led to the use of more animals” (Hogenboom, Melissa 3). This quote perfectly describes the controversy of animal testing. The medical use of animal testing may be considered “morally wrong” it should be supported for the major achievements that have been discovered. In Genesis 1:26 it says: “And God said.. let them [human beings] have domination over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Human domination over animals is allowed and supported in different religions traditions and beliefs. In a BBC report Jewish, Christian, and Muslim teachings support animal testing, as long as it benefits humans there is no unnecessary pain being inflicted. Experimentation of living animals has been used since before 500 B.C. (“Should Animals be”). To discover the workings of living things, scientists such as, Aristotle, Herophilus, and Erasistratus experimented with living animals (5). Aristotle believed that animals could not feel pain and lacked intelligence, so it was perfectly acceptable. In one of Galen’s experiments in animal vivisection he provided that arteries did in fact contain blood, which were earlier believed to contain air. Through animal experimentation, English physician William Harvey discovered that the heart, not the lungs, circulated blood through the body (5). Throughout history many vast medical advances have been made, and are continuously being improved. Animal testing ... ... middle of paper ... ...heir ability to quickly reproduce, scientists can see how something affects many generations (3). After being tested on animals and produced the Polio vaccine has reduced the global appearance of disease from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 233 cases in 2012 (“Should Animals be” 1). A large amount of people do not agree with animal testing, but they do not understand the amazing benefits of it. Animal experimentation has been used throughout history, we have achieved major medical advances from it, and all of the research has very strict regulations. Lord Taylor said, “We recognise that the use of animals in scientific research is a small but essential function in improving our understanding of medical and physiological conditions, the research and development of new medicines technologies and its necessary to ensure the safety of our environment” (Hogenboom, Melissa 2).

More about The Benefits of Animal Experimentation

Open Document