This interaction and communication cannot always be copied in cell cultures and that makes animals - at least in part - essential to understanding these complex interactions. In many cases so-called animal models are used: animals in which certain disease symptoms are elicited genetically, chemically or in some other way. The human disease is copied. Such experiments provide a lot of relevant information and many of the new drugs being marketed today were in part created thanks to this process.
The use of animals in medical research: infographic. It is important to realize that animal models are indeed just models. They often cannot fully represent or copy the human condition. But the animal model will provide relevant information where the genetics and molecular pathways are similar.
One should also realize that the alternatives in the form of cell cultures or more complex alternatives such as organoids or organs on a chip are also just models.
They also have their limitations and the questions that one can answer with them are often more limited. They stand for Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal experiments. These principles have been enshrined in the animal welfare legislation and should always be applied when considering an animal experiment. Replacement This principle means that - wherever possible - an animal experiment must always be replaced by an alternative that does not require animals. For example, an experiment using cells in a test tube as an alternative.
Reduction This principle entails that when you perform an animal experiment, you should always use the lowest possible number of animals that will still give you a scientifically and statistically relevant result. Animal models help ensure the effectiveness and safety of new treatments.
Alternative methods of research do not simulate humans and whole body systems in the same way and are not as reliable. No Many animals are used for experiments and then killed. It is expensive to use model organisms as the animals must be purchased and then fed, housed and cared for. Some people will consider using animals in the lab to be immoral. Are animal experiments necessary? Yes Some diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis , involve very complex physiological processes that can only be studied in a whole, living animal.
Until there is a cell that can be studied individually and can exhibit human-like responses, animals are necessary. Legally, all drugs have to be tested on animals for safety before they can be used in humans. Where there are reliable alternatives in scientific research, animals are not used. There must always be a very clear scientific reason for research on animals to be considered. Through testing on animals we are able to ensure any risks of a drug are identified and minimised before it is tested on humans during clinical trials.
This helps to reduce side effects and human fatalities. No There is no need to cause pain and suffering to animals when sophisticated computer systems, mathematical models, human tissue and cell cultures and more focused clinical studies can also show us what happens to our bodies during disease.
Is it ethical to use animals in research? Yes The UK has gone further than any other country to implement thorough ethical frameworks when it comes to animals in research. The Animals Act of ensures that any research using animals must be fully assessed in terms of any harm to the animals. This involves detailed examination of the procedures and the number and type of animals used.
The use of animals in research is never undertaken lightly. Researchers working with animals carry out their experiments with extreme care to eliminate or minimise suffering. Whenever possible painkillers and anaesthetics are used to manage pain , in the same way it is when an animal visits a vet. To stop animal research would also be unethical as it would dramatically affect the development of new knowledge and flow of treatments to those with health conditions who desperately need them.
The alternative to using animals in the lab would be to test new drugs in humans. Far fewer animals are used in scientific research than are killed for humans to eat. It has been estimated that 2. This is around times more animals than the number used in scientific research. No Over 4 million animal procedures are currently carried out each year for UK biomedical research. Stanford researchers are obligated to ensure the well-being of animals in their care, in strict adherence to the highest standards, and in accordance with federal and state laws, regulatory guidelines, and humane principles.
They are also obligated to continuously update their animal-care practices based on the newest information and findings in the fields of laboratory animal care and husbandry. Researchers requesting use of animal models at Stanford must have their research proposals reviewed by a federally mandated committee that includes two independent community members.
We at Stanford are dedicated to refining, reducing, and replacing animals in research whenever possible, and to using alternative methods cell and tissue cultures, computer simulations, etc. What are the benefits of using animals in research? Stanford researchers have made many important human and animal life-saving discoveries through their work. Why Animal Research?
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