The use of animals for scientific purposes is a historical procedure in human civilization, but this practice is controversial for societies concerned with the protection of animals. Animal experimentation can be understood as the practice of performing interventions on live or freshly slaughtered animals in order to benefit scientific knowledge. Although developed since ancient times, this procedure is an offence to human sensibilities and arouses discussion among the academic community and animal protection groups. In my opinion, these experimental practices are completely and totally dispensable.

I believe that these practices are unnecessary because, besides bringing pain and suffering to animals, it has the possibility of errors when one wants to transfer interpretations obtained from tests on certain animal species to humans. During this vacation period I was watching a movie called “The Planet of the Animals: The Origin”, in which humans tried a drug on monkeys, which would be the cure for Alzheimer’s. This drug when used in monkeys had other effects than in humans. In this case, in humans this drug didn’t cure the disease and in the monkeys their IQ increased, leading to a huge problem.

I believe in the feasibility of using substitutive research methods and that these would need to be considered. If it would be used to cure a human disease, why was it tested on animals? Why was it not tested on human cells, which simulate the human body? I think this could be one of the alternatives for not having to involve animals in scientific researches.

Animal experimentation focused on scientific research, should not be considered at all. Time and resources should be used also to find alternatives to animal usage. I’m completely against animal use on experimental research, as animals are living beings like humans and they should be left alone.

Rafaela AD3y M/W Teacher – Sean