Why Are Animals Used in Scientific Research?

Animal testing, also called "animal research," "animal experimentation" or "in vivo testing," is when animal species other than humans are used for research and experimentation. Research is typically done in universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies or at businesses contracted to conduct research on someone else's behalf. The most common animals researched are fruit flies, worms, mice, rats and zebra fish. Other animals, such as primates and farm animals, are also used for research purposes. Animal rights organizations question the necessity to conduct animal research and the outcome's reliability when considering how a human would react in the same condition in which the animal was tested.

History of Animal Research

• Animal research dates to the times of Ancient Rome, when animals were dissected for learning purposes. However, it wasn't until the 1700s that animals were used more than humans for research purposes and veterinary medicine became popular; particularly when a fatal illness to cattle spread from Russia to Europe. Holistic medicines, anesthesia and antiseptics were then tested on animals in the 1800s. It wasn't until the time of the World Wars that animal research became accepted and deemed beneficial.

Similar Anatomy and Physiology

• One of the main reasons animals are used in scientific research is because the anatomy and physiology of humans and animals are similar. This is particularly true for mammals since they, like humans, are made up of cells, organs and tissues. As a result, animals provide a good idea about how a human would react to a certain substance, stimulus or environment.

Animals Get the Same Diseases as Humans

• Because animals are so biologically similar to humans, more than 200 health problems are shared. Such diseases include cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, birth defects and injuries to the spinal cord.

The Environment of an Animal is Controlled

• Unlike with humans, the environment an animal inhabits can be controlled. This protects animals from outside diseases or conditions that could cause harm to an animal's health. If testing were to be done on humans, may factors that are hard to calculate would have to be taken into consideration. For example, an animal in a controlled environment will have his temperature and humidity controlled. Outside factors such as lifestyles and living conditions are, therefore, not worried about so tests can be repeated and outcomes reproduced in an accurate fashion.

Tests Can Be Repeated on Several Subjects

• When research is conducted it needs to be done on a "scientifically valid" number of animals. This means that tests need to be repeated on several different subjects to see how results differ to produce accurate statistical data.