Animal testing

The use of animal for scientific or medical experiments has been practiced for decades.
Animal experimentation serves as models to see how a drug or a particular environment will
affect human beings. As such, there are a lot of ethical debates that surround animal testing.
These tests are conducted in military facilities, universities and pharmaceutical research
institutions. Over 800,000 animals, vertebrates and invertebrates, have been used for research by
man. These are mostly conducted under strict international regulations such as the Animal
Welfare Act. Non-human primates have been the subject of many studies that relate to how
human beings will respond under certain circumstances especially in astronautics since they are
genetically related to humans.
I am strongly against animal testing because it demeans the rights of animals. I strongly
object animal testing because studies have shown that less than 2% of diseases suffered by
humans occur in animals. Results also indicate that 95% of drugs tested on animals are
dangerous to humans. It is also important to point out that anatomical differences between
animals and humans lead to discrepancies. Rats for instance have a metabolic process that differs
to that of human beings. A study in Germany showed that over 80% of drugs that were
considered safe after animal testing resulted into stillbirths in humans. This is also the case with
births with defects caused by drugs that were seen as safe on animals. In addition, only 240 out
of 200,000 animal tested drugs have been approved for human use. There is also the religious
perspective on the issue. Most religions forbid mistreatment of animals since they are important
creations just like humans. Having said that, I also appreciate that there are instances where
animal toxicology testing is necessary to save human life. Here, the effects of a new vaccine can

be tested before administering to a human population that is faced by an epidemic. I also support
educational testing where animals are studied in different environments without harming them.