Victoria Sojka

Ms. Gardner

English 10H Period 6

3 May 2017

The Truth Behind Our Products

It is agreeable that some of the most minor discomforts can feel absolutely detrimental,

whether it is simply an eye and skin irritation, or accidentally touching a burning hot stove, to

feeling debilitated by the flu. Imagine feeling all of this discomfort at the same time, every single

day. That is only the start of an animals life in labs during the process of animal

experimentation. Animal experimentation is used worldwide to enable scientists to study changes

in behaviors and biological systems when exposed to various medicines, vaccinations, cosmetics

and personal care items. Many of our day to day products have been tested on animals. From the

Windex cleaner we use on our windows, to the Roundup we use to kill the weeds in our yards.

100 million animals are either killed injured severely during experimentation by being burned,

blinded, intentionally being infected by diseases, and being injected with chemicals (Moore).

Although numerous scientists claim animal experimentation has allowed them to make multiple

scientific discoveries, this form of testing should not be continued because it is not always valid

or reliable, there more efficient alternative methods of testing, and it is immoral and unethical to

harm innocent animals.

Many scientists across the world argue animal experimentation should continue to be the

main procedure used in labs to test day to day products, and find cures to illnesses and injuries.
They believe animal experimentation established the vaccination of numerous infectious

diseases, saving millions of lives. The vaccination of polio was finalized by testing it on cows

and making the necessary alterations throughout the research. Due to animal-based testing,

cancer survival rates have gone up 60% between 2001 and 2007 and have stopped the potential

growths of SARS and the avian flu. Ultimately, scientists claim the vaccines wouldnt have been

able to be established if it wasnt tested and altered on animals. Supporters of animal

experimentation believe that animal experimentation is medically beneficial and crucial to the

discovery of medical advancements. It is true that animal experimentation has allowed scientists

to make various discoveries, however, it should not be continued because it is not always valid or

reliable on humans, there are alternative ways to test products and vaccines, and it is utterly

immoral and unethical.

Admittedly, animal experimentation may provide scientists the medical information they

require in order to create vaccinations for infectious diseases, however, when considering the

little amount of information actually discovered while enduring animal experimentation, and the

efficiency of the products produced, animal experimentation appears to be a slow, inefficient

method. Nine out of ten products tested work efficiently on humans. For example, in 1983, the

Zomax pain relief drug for arthritis was being tested and altered on animals and seemed to be

efficient and safe on the animals, however, when released on the market, the drug tragically

killed 14 people. Along with that incident, in 2006, 6 men took a drug called TGN1412 in

London, resulting in deathly side effects. In less than two hours, the men faced organ failure and

severe brain swelling . Previously the same exact drug had been given to monkeys at much
higher dose. The monkeys showed no negative effects and the drug was then considered safe to

translate over to humans.

90% of the products that appear to work on animals, notes author of David Attenborough

Calls for End to 'Cruel' Brain Tests on Primates, Ted Jeory, end up hurting or killing human

when translated over to them. These appalling incidents cost 16 billion dollars annually on

animal testing, when it isnt an efficient source. Animals are simply not humans, therefore,

testing human products and drugs on creatures that arent human is dangerous and unreliable.

Animal experimentation has been a way for scientists to test products and make medical

advancements , however, the majority of the products dont translate over correctly to humans,

and billions of dollars are spent. In summation, if animal experimentation harms people more

than helps, why should millions of dollars be wasted on faulty experimentation?

As research shows that it is very expensive and unreliable, it also shows there are other

alternatives to making medical discoveries and testing products. Scientists can use alternatives

such as computer models and simulations, stem cell testing methods, test tube methods and

models on human cells. Embryonic stem cells can grow and turn into cells that ultimately

duplicate a real human organ, allowing testing to show the exact outcome of a product on human

organs. These in vitro versions of human tissue are superior to dishes of a single cell type to

assess the toxicological impact of a drug, notes robert Comes in his article, Animal

experimentation and alternatives: revealed preferences, and they provide a human impact

profile, not a mouses. Embryonic stem cells also hold promise on the front end of drug

discovery. Animal experimentation is unnecessary due to the fact that their are various other

alternatives that are more efficient and less expensive. As a result, to save money and progress
faster in making medical discoveries in a safe manner, animal experimentation should be ruled

out.

Ultimately, animal experimentation is unethical and immoral. It is unethical to make

millions of thinking, feeling animals undergo daily pain. Over 100 million animals die each year,

and the rest are usually scarred physically or mentally. A large variety of animals are used such

as dogs, cats, mice, frogs, monkeys, birds, and pigs. In addition, 78,294 animals are forced to

undergo severe pain that is above the average pain tolerance (Trull). It is also recorded that the

animals in labs are abused and neglected, alongside the daily testing. In addition, animals can

consciously sense other animals in pain, and gain feelings of depression and sadness. Millions of

innocent animals dont deserve unnecessary torment and suffering. It is utterly unethical. Animal

experimentation should not be pursued, and other alternatives should be considered.

Even though animal experimentation has made many beneficial discoveries and

advancements, most of the products dont translate over to human bodies, cost millions of

dollars, when there are other more efficient ways, and results in millions of deaths of innocent

animals. Animal experimentation ultimately wastes millions of dollars annually on tragic

accidents rather than beneficial advancements. The process of animal experimentation is slow,

and the products being tested hardly ever function correctly. The millions of animals being

tortured and killed is initially for the production of very few cosmetics and vaccinations. Since

there are numerous efficient ways to make medical progressions, animal experimentation is

utterly pointless and must be stopped.

 Work Cited

Fears, Darryl. "One Last U.S. Medical School Still Killed Animals to Teach Surgery..."

Washington Post - Blogs, 30 Jun, 2016, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

R, Combes. Animal experimentation and alternatives: revealed preferences. Europe PMC, 1

Jan. 1970,

europepmc.org/search?query=AUTH%3A%22Combes%2BR%22&page=1&restrict=All%2Bresults.

Accessed 9 May 2017.

Gluck, John P. "Regretting My Animal Research." New York Times, 04 Sep, 2016, pp. SR.7,

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Jeory, Ted. "David Attenborough Calls for End to 'Cruel' Brain Tests on Primates.." The

Independent (Online), 07 Sep, 2016, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

 Moore, Paula. "As the Netherlands Phases Out Animal Experimentation, Will Other.." People for

the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 14 Oct, 2016, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Trull, Frankie L. "Animal Testing and its Gifts to Humans." Wall Street Journal, 24 Apr, 2015,

pp. A.11, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com

Trull, Frankie L. "Look to Animals to Cure Ebola." Baltimore Sun, 02 Feb, 2015, pp. A.13, SIRS

Issues Researcher, https://sks.