Animal Testing

There is much controversy over the use of animals for research. The practice is known as animal experimentation, animal research or in vivo testing is conducted worldwide. Over 100 million animals are used annually for this research.

The research is conducted at universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies, farms, defense industries and commercial facilities. The purpose is the study of genetics, developmental biology, behavioural patterns, tissue and organ transplantation and drug testing.

The practice of animal testing dates back to the Greeks. Before applying surgical procedures to humans, animals were used to verify the method. Louis Pasteur induced anthrax in sheep proving his germ theory. Ivan Pavlov used dogs to demonstrate classical conditioning. Insulin was isolated in dogs. Antibiotics and a vaccine for leprosy was developed in armadillos. In 1996, Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be cloned.

Drug testing using animals became a significant part of the drug development process. To avoid new drugs from coming on the market and causing bad reactions, Congress passed a law in 1937 requiring the new drug to be tested on animals first.

The fruit fly and the nematode worm are the most used invertebrate. Although they can be studied in large numbers, they lack an adaptive immune system which limited their use. Rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and rabbits can provide a better basis for human comparison in drug and genetic testing. Cats are used in neurological testing. Dogs are use in cardiology, endocrinology and bone and joint studies. Monkeys are used in drug testing, AIDS, neurology, behavior and tissue and organ transplantation.

The animals are supplied by Class A breeders licensed to sell them for research purposes. Licensed Class B breeders can sell them from random sources i.e. shelters, auctions. Four states require shelters to sell them for research and fourteen states prohibit this practice.

The debate is over how much pain and suffering an animal is exposed to and how cruel is the practice. In some cases, the pain is momentary, some cases anesthesia is used and others there is no pain relief. If it suffers intensely, it may be euthanized before regaining consciousness.

The current position by most countries is that animal testing is desirable to gain medical knowledge if the suffering and use is minimal. The testing must benefit human beings in saving lives. Minority groups argue that animals have rights and testing is in violation of these rights. Most countries have adapted the three Rs principle: used non-animal methods when possible, obtain information from fewer animals or more information from the same number of animals and minimize pain and suffering.

Frank Loethen lives with his wife and three cats, Sunny, Sinclair and Midnite, in Georgia. If you enjoyed this article, please visit my cat products website, [http://www.purrfectcatproducts.com]http://www.purrfectcatproducts.com, your one stop site for all your cat and kitten needs. Cat food, cat toys, litter accessories and cat treats are among the many items on the site. You can also see my three cats on the site.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Animal-Testing&id=3855083] Animal Testing