Argumentative Essay On Animal Testing

Using animals for research and testing dates all the way back to 384 BC when Greek physician-scientists such as Galen, Erasistratus, and Aristotle conducted experiments on living animals. They used these experiments to help advance the understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology. There is no denying that animal research has contributed to improving human health. Vaccinations against polio, measles, hepatitis and other diseases have all been found thanks to the use of testing on animals. However, that does not change the fact that animal testing for our own benefit is inhumane, costly and is often not reliable. For these reasons, I believe that there should be alternative ways for testing that do not involve harming animals, are cost-effective,

Statistics from PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has revealed that more than $12 billion is used annually on animal testing alone. Of that $12 billion, $300,000 is used for injecting hamsters with steroids and forcing them to fight, another $500,000 is used for inducing heart attack in dogs and a whopping $1.7 million is used for inducing depression in baby monkeys. It is not necessary to waste billions of dollars on torturing animals when there are safer and cheaper alternatives. In-vitro testing is an example of a safer and cheaper alternative. This method of testing is done in a test tube and does not require the harm of any animals. The Humane Society International compared a collection of the costs of animal testing versus the costs of in-vitro testing and found that in-vitro testing is exceptionally cheaper. For example, an unscheduled DNA synthesis animal test costs $32,000 while the in-vitro alternative cost $11,000. A rat phototoxicity test costs $11,500 whereas the comparable in-vitro test is only $1,300. A rat uterotrophic assay costs $29,600 while its non-animal equivalent costs $7,200. Wyss Institute, a research institute that develops bio inspired devices and materials, has constructed “organs-on-chips” that consists of human cells grown to mimic the function of human organs and systems. These chips can be used for testing cosmetics, drugs, chemicals and toxicity rather than

It is true that there was a time when there was not advanced enough technology to provide alternatives to animal testing but that advanced technology exists now. This advanced technology has provided humankind with alternatives such as in-vitro testing, “organ-on-chips” and 3D tissue models that can easily replace the use of animals for research which will greatly reduce the number of animals used and killed each year. These alternatives are not only safer for animals but for humans as well providing accurate results. They have also proven to be cost-effective saving thousands of dollars on each test that is conducted. Because there are now alternatives for animal testing, there is no longer any reason to put millions of animals through the kind of torture they receive while testing. Using these alternatives will save millions of dollars, animals and