The Animal Testing Controversy

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Animal Testing Animal testing is a controversial subject amongst many people, some of which believe it greatly benefits humanity and others who believe it is animal cruelty. Animal treatment during testing is one of the most discussed arguments between those who are for and against testing. How regulated and ethical or unethical are these procedures? Do animals deserve rights that would make them exempt from laboratory testing? Does science and humans truly reap any real benefits from these experiments or can these results be replicated without the use of animals? Although animal testing has brought advancements to human science in the past, it is an expensive way of researching, is not completely conclusive, and does not have enough positive results to back up its cruel experimentations. Animal testing is the use of non-human animals for experimentation. Animal research has led to the cure and development for many diseases. “Animal experimentation has led to the development of treatments for diabetes, anthrax, rabies, polio, and smallpox, as well as anti-depressants, tranquilizers and antibiotics. Cancer chemotherapy, organ transplants, gene therapy, blood transfusions, cardiac pacemakers and the discovery of DNA are all linked to animal research” ( At Issue: Animal Experimentation). Tests conducted on animals in labs include consumer product safety, basic scientific research, and the efficiency of test drugs before proceeding to human clinical trials. The reasoning for these tests is to detect the effect it will have on humans. “The most common and controversial tests are the Draize eye irritation test and the Lethal Dose 50 test, used to test for toxicity. The Draize test involves dropping potentially irritating... ... middle of paper ... ...uest LLC. 2014: n.pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. Ferdowsian, Hope. "Animal Research: Why We Need Alternatives." Chronicle of Higher Education. 07 Nov. 2010: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. Gorman, James. "Rights Group Is Seeking Status of 'Legal Person' for..." New York Times. 03 Dec. 2013: A.19. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Jan. 2014. Morgan, Pat. "Lives in the Balance: A Debate: Animal Instinct." Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI). Aug. 13 1989: J1+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 06 Feb. 2014. Pruce, David. "Can the Use of Animals in Medical Research Ever Be Justified?." The Independent. 21 Jun. 2011: 8. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. Sullivan, Kristie. "No More Excuses for Testing Cosmetics on Animals." Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. 11 Apr. 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.

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