However, it is not as cut and dry as the picture above shows because clearly both are living creatures whose lives are important. Yet, when one sees this picture you may definitely say "the little girl" because she's obviously more important, right? Before you make up your mind it is important to hear out both sides, become an informed reader, and form your own opinion on what is right, whether it be for, against, or both.
First, we need some reasons for conducting animal research.
- Improving both human and animal health.
- Curiosity
- Similar underlying biological systems
The fact is many animal models are very similar to our human model allowing results to be generalized to humans. Animal research allows the researcher to decide if human testing should be started on a certain protocol or procedure after the animal trials were a success.
As undergraduate and graduate students, we are encouraged to become involved in research opportunities to become well rounded and appealing students to potential future graduate schools looking to recruit new students or highly competitive jobs that require experience.- Undergraduate/Graduate Research
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The Ethical Debate
While I now believe in using animals in research, when I made the decision to work in a research lab that uses animals (rats in my case) I had to stop and think if this was the right decision for me. I chose to take the opportunity because there is really no comparison in actually seeing a behavior and being the one to manipulate and obtain new promising results. Upon starting, I had to take several training sessions in lab safety and animal handling to understand the importance involved in the care of these animals as protected by the IACUC. Overtime you realize that you would never want to hurt your "participants" or be negligent to their needs.
Nevertheless, this is my opinion and nothing more.
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I really enjoyed reading your blog. What kinds on government laws have been implemented to ensure the rights of the animals? And what limitations have been placed on animal testing?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Well to start with, their living conditions are closely monitored everything from their diet having the correct percentage of protein, filtered water, non-toxic bedding, cages cleaned nearly every other day as well as having timed lights to provide their dark-light cycles of 12 hours and so much more. As I mentioned above, the IACUC is the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee into which any researcher must submit their research proposal to make sure animal stress/pain is minimized and ethical before they can actually start a study. There are many other laws and acts to protect the use of animals as well.
DeleteHi there, I agree with Brittany, your blog was a good read. I coincide with your idea of using animals in research. I'm a strong believer that it is through them, animals, that we have come this far regarding medical advances and psychology discoveries as well. In regards to you working in a research lab, I am very curious in knowing the research being conducted and how rats play a role in it.
ReplyDeleteI think that was a very good point about how animal testing can be used to not only help humans, but animals themselves. This can be a very strong motivator for those that are against the use of testing and experimentation on animals since at times, the very things they're trying to protect can be what the scientists in a sense are trying to protect as well. good read!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest at first I was not in favor of animal testing. But when I started college and I started to become introduced to the research field. At first I thought that it was animal abuse and did not want to have anything to do with animal research. But now I am more familiarized with it. Not only does it help us in our research but sometimes it helps animals as well.
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