Against Animal Testing Essay -- Animal Rights

Animal testing has started long back in the ancient Greek times. Greek physician Galen dissected animals, this became known as vivisection, which he studied. Since then animal testing has long grew. Over the many years our people have been either against or with animal testing. Animal testing has been an issue that has been occurring for many years and will continue into our future. Over the years our culture has created organizations for people both sides of this topic trying to convince others to be choosing a side. We the people are now able to make our own decision on which side we want to be on. Animal testing is seen as useful reasons for medical experimentation due to animals being genetically similar to humans. Mice and rats are nearly identical to humans in their genetic components. Rodents make up 95% of the animals used in testing while the other 5% consist of monkeys, fish, birds, etc. Animal testing has been very important to our society, it has been a step in ensuring the safety of new pharmaceuticals and medical procedures. Journalist John Cook notes in the online magazine Salon, "There is virtually no new drug--from Viagra to Prozac to Claritin--that has been brought to market in recent decades without a large number of animals dying in the process." There have been many new vaccines and surgical procedures that have been derived from animal testing. Supports of animal testing agree with the practice, it has a positive impact of society. Supports also believe that without animal testing, researchers would have a difficult time learning the safety of drugs. Anima ls "are the best possible models we have short of humans, and experimenting on people is not acceptable," says Frankie Trull, the president of the Founda... ... References: Mason, Heather (5/25/04). Americans Unruffled by Animal Testing. Gallup Poll Tuesday Briefing. Biever, Celeste (5/13/06). Can computer models replace animal testing? New Scientist, Vol. 190 Animal Testing. (2006, March 31). Issues & Controversies On File. Retrieved August 3, 2006, from Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com database. Testing times, Animal experiments (6/10/06). The Economist (US).Retrieved August 3, 2006, from Health & Wellness. Animal Testing 101 (8/12/06). PETA Retrieved August 12, 2006 from Stop Animal Testing.com Animal testing (2006) The Humane Society of the United States .Retrieved August 20, 2006. The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique (1958). W.M.S. Russell and R.L. Burch Center For Alternatives To Animal Testing. The Johns Hopkins University 1997-2006.