Animal Testing

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change" - Albert Einstein.

The ethics of animal testing is one of the most frequently debated topics around the world. Animal testing is the use of non-human animals in experiments that seek to control the variables that affect the biological system under study.

Some terms to know about before diving into this topic:

In vitro testing: The use of “organ on chips” that contain human cells grown to mimic the structure and function of human organs and organs system.

Computer modeling: The use of computer models that simulate human biology and can predict the ways in which new drugs react with the human body.

Microdosing: This method provides information on the safety of a drug and how it is metabolized in large-scale human trials. Volunteers are given micro doses of the drug and are monitored to understand how the drug behaves in their bodies. It is used to screen out drug compounds that do not work as intended.

Human patient simulator: The use of a “trauma man" that replicates a breathing human torso and has realistic layers of skin, ribs, and blood. It is used to teach medical students how different surgeries work, in place of live animal dissections.

Over the years, many successful vaccines and medicines have been invented with the help of animal testing - some cosmetic products are tested on animals, too! This method might be inhumane, but it is understandable why it had to be done. Back in those days, there were no other ways to test the efficiency or safety of any medicine, as microdosing, in vitro testing, or computer modelling were unexplored areas.

There are no conclusive studies that have proven that animal testing works, and it is time we refocus and adapt to the new methods of testing to further our understanding of human pathology.

Many organizations like John Hopkins Centre and PETA have taken a stand against animal testing and encourage companies to replace those primitive methods with more effective, non-animal methods.

Animal testing is simply a cruel act provided the alternatives we have discovered. Such animals used as subjects in animal testing spend almost their entire lives imprisoned in a cage, subjugated to pain continuously. Their cruel fates of being encaged, controlled by humans, and having born only to die are heartbreaking sights.

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly embrace the new.” - Alan Cohen.

Even though it might be difficult to let go of past habits and what we are used to, it is time we embrace the future and adapt to methods that do not intentionally harm any creature. Stop encouraging cruelty against animals because they, too, are just living beings trying to survive in this cold, harsh world.

-Ankita Rao.

Editor: Vikram

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Image courtesy of Hugethank