The Pros And Cons Of Animal Testing

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A subject which always raises an argument of strong feelings from both sides is animal testing. I believe that although it may have been necessary in the past, other methods are now available to test drugs and in the future scientists could develop more methods to stop animals being used altogether.
The history of animal testing goes way back to the writings of the Greeks in the fourth and third centuries BCE when two men called Aristotle and Erasistratus performed experiments on live animals for anatomical research. Avenzoar, an Arabic physician in 12th century introduced animal testing as a method of testing surgical procedures before performing them on human patients.
The lives of ten million human diabetics have been saved because of our experiments carried out on dogs with insulin. Dogs also benefited from this too, as insulin can also be used on them. In fact, a third of drugs used by vets are the same as those used by doctors. I personally believe that if there are no other alternatives to animal testing, then and only then, is it acceptable, and only if suffering is minimised in all experiments.
The law in the UK requires that any new drug must be tested on two different species of living mammal. The way experiments by scientists have been controlled by legislation since 1822. For example, the Animals Act of 1986 says that no animal experiment can be carried out if there is an approved alternative. Before testing on an animal the testers need three Home licenses- one for the institution, one for the scientist and one for the project. They must show that the experiment will provide great benefits and also prove there is no alternative to this experiment. Also, random inspections take place and on-site vets are necessary. ...

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...ent is committed to finding other research methods but for the foreseeable future the use of ferrets, fish, mice and monkeys seem like they shall still be necessary for some procedures.
On March 11, 2013, Cruelty Free International finally won their 20 year long battle by making a complete ban on marketing of animal-tested cosmetics in all 28 nations in the European Union. Now, not only can no animal testing for cosmetics take place but cosmetics products that have been tested on animals cannot be sold in the European Union.
In conclusion, I agree that animal experiments have brought a lot of good in the past. However we now have the technology and expertise to develop other methods of testing surgical procedures and drugs so that the use of animals can be completely over. It is incumbent on the human race to protect and take care of all species on the planet.

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