Should animal be used for testing

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The debate on whether animals should be used in testing has become a main subject to many. Opinions from different people differ since some agree with animal testing while others position that it`s not permitted to sacrifice animals for science as they are badly treated in their life time. Though one may be against animal testing, they should agree that they are selfish since they do not advocate for the use of animals in food industry and at times, they are involved in consuming animal`s products.
Essentially, not every animal is suited for the test but laboratory animals are breed for science purposes and they guarantee improvement in the fields of science. On the other hand, everybody will benefit from this more so cosmetics industry, medical, pharmaceutical as well as household companies end up improving their products by testing them on animals, making it possible for man to live a better life. This paper seeks to look at the past, present and future of research in animal testing (Day 1994)
If one could simply define animal research, it can be illustrated as the use of non-human animals in experimentation. The use of animal research has not been a new thing as it has been going on as far back as the time of Greek writing. It was around 384-322BC when Aristotle was recorded to use animals in experiments. Later on, Doctor Galen who lived around 129-200AD become the father of vivisection from an experiment on living pigs. Though the experiment was not meant for medical research, it was done to gain knowledge about the animals.
In this era, one could not compare man with any animal in either physiology or any other way. For instance, biblically, man was created in God`s image and was given power above any other creature in the air, water, those moving along the ground and all the creatures on the earth. Though some people are against animals testing, animal should be used for testing since by doing this, life will change and people will be living a simple life of no fear (Demello and Willians, 2007)
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Even if animal research sounds as a spanking new term to most of the people, it started about 150 years ago when physiology become acknowledged as a science. From there, immense progress was noted in mid-1800s when medical research started experimenting animals. Amongst the first discovery, functioning of the cardiovascular and nerve system research was undertaken. In early 1959, Charles Darwin discovered the evolution theory. In his theory, he shows the link between animals and humans and also linked them between groups where each suits.
By the help of different groups, it gives a path for research to be done on animals in order to understand the different animals and as well learn how human physiology worked. People did not support his discovery and later on, Darwin believed that animals have emotion and he decided to divide them between animal lovers, by doing this, British Animals Act which regulates research on animals started. Progress in animal research has taken a better direction and this has made medical research interesting and perfect.
According to Woods (1999), a vital progress in medical research was revealed by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in the 19th century. The two scientists discovered that micro-organisms caused maladies to both animals and human by the use of anthrax. On the other hand, Pasteur developed a vaccine to anthrax and later made a vaccine to rabies and all this was through animal testing. After this, several researches were carried out and another fundamental discovery was established. Insulin was the crucial medical discovery where it is believed to be secreted from the isles of langerhans in the pancreas. The research was done by the use of a dog pancreas and their aim was to prove its role in digestion.
After the removal of the dog`s pancreas, researchers discovered some flies around the urine of the dog and after testing the urine, they found sugar which then proved connection between pancreas and diabetes. Two decades later, research on how to keep a dog alive without its own insulin production was done. After this, they got a way to extract insulin and they started using animals like horse, pig, cow and fish. They used animal`s insulin since they discovered that insulin produced by the animals are approximately the same to those produced in humans (Parks 2008).
The use of animals insulin has brought as far since in today`s life, DNA which is the most insulin grown from human bacteria helps in determining biological factors which cold be a big obstacle if they were not there. Animals testing has also prolonged mans lifespan since 1950s by the help of discovering things like
* Hip replacement surgery
* Replacement heart valves
* Polio vaccine
* Kidney transplant.
During 1960s -1990s several discoveries were possible still having originated from the help of animals testing. They include:
* Drugs to treat leukemia, stomach ulcers, and asthma
* Life-support systems for premature babies
* Drugs to control transplant rejection
* Heart bypass operation
* Drug to treat mental illness
* And Dolly Cloning.
Though animal should be used in research, there are ethics which should be adhered to while testing animals. The question on whether laboratory animals should be treated different form domestic pet, how should animals be treated and whether there is a general standard for this teasing remains a significant question as it was before since there is no correct answer which makes it more fundamental to discuss (Cothran, 2002). The fact is that animal use in testing is one of many exploratory methods used in science today and it has played a vital role in expansion of modern medical treatment. This suggests that use of animals in research will remain to be fundamental as long as new improvement by researchers will be required.
Beliefs on animal testing can be viewed in different perfectives, but the perception to human beings is rather negative when commenced to the term animal testing. In modern days, general development has become more and more engaging. According to Singer 1975, he advocates on animals rights where he agues that there is obviously vital differences between human and other animals where the differences must give rise to some differences in the rights that each have.
International practices and legislations on animal testing differ from country to another. In common, the legislations are not progressing and there is no difference between animals used for science purpose and those used for medical research. For instance when we look at Norway legislation, there have a legislation for the use of animals in research more so those in embryonal and fetal stages and all invertebrates, except decapods are done without any approval (Cothran , 2002)
Europe on its side is different from other countries since their aim is to expand the unity between its members and co-operate with other states in the safety oh live animals used in experimental as well those used in other scientific purposes. In their support, they specify that animals used for scientific purposes are not domestic animals or pets. The most group used for animal testing are the invertebrates since this animals have a simpler form of nervous system and they don`t require a...