By Dana, Page High School, Page, AZ

Biomedical research using animals is the most efficient way to protect humans from the unpredictable. Everyday the world is positively affected, either directly or indirectly, as a result of animal testing. Animal use in scientific investigation is helping fuel biotechnology, creating a world of endless possibility.

Biotechnology is the use of living things to make products. This includes simple processes such as using yeast to leaven bread, or bacteria to age cheese and ferment wine. A more complex form of biotechnology is genetic engineering. This is a wonderful tool to science because it is a modernized version of selective breeding. This new process allows for quicker, more accurate results, and overcomes the barriers between species. And of course, this could not be done without animals.

Animals have always been essential to biotechnology. Medicines are tested on animals before being administered, research is performed on animals to determine the sources of our ailments, and animals are far more human like than computer analogies. There are countless variables that may affect a situation, and accurate precautions may only be taken through live experimentation.

As the world advances from the present to the future, many new discoveries and hopes are being predicted through biotechnology and animal testing. Such as genetically altering cows to produce lactose free milk, or beef with less fat ("Your Genes..." pg. 3). Another advantage of biotechnology is designing crops and livestock that can withstand harsh conditions, providing for third world countries and the growing population ("Your Genes..." pg. 4). It would be impossible to succeed with these projects without the use of animals. Scientists have even found ways to spare the agony of trial and error by creating animals already prone to disease, in order to find cures ("Your Genes..." pg. 4).

Genetically altered mice are being used to test treatments for immune disorders. Specific genes are removed that would resist disease. The disease is then implanted, and researchers study the disorder to gain as much information as possible. It is a very unique idea and has proven to be very effective. Regulating agencies and activists monitor animals use. They have also set strict guidelines to insure the safety of the animal.

In my opinion, scientific testing on animals is ethical and a necessity for biomedical research. Without years of study and observation of animals, the scientific world would not have advanced, nor gained the potential , that is has tody ("Animal Research..." pg. 7). Countless medicines and surgical procedures have aided humans as a result of animal use. Such as the acceptance of donor organs, the discoveries of vaccines and antibacterial agents, as well as treatments of hypertension and major diseases, like cancer ("Animal Research..." pg. 4,5).

Cancer has become one of the more prominent diseases of our time. I lost a grandmother to the disease, but was content in knowing that her life was prolonged because of advancements in treatment, due to animal testing. It’s not easy to loose a loved one, but it’s much easier to be reassured that something can be done to help them. The advanced technology available today will soon become the prehistoric ways of tomorrow. The only way the make sure this happens is to continue to use animals to aid humans in sustaining life.

By using animals such as ice and rats, the world is not stripped away of rare beings, nor particularly loved animals. And though testing is also done monkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, and bears, the information gained by their involuntary cooperation is genuine and irreplaceable. The sacrifice of an animal’s life is worth saving a human’s. An animal lover should still understand this and support the sacrifice.

This issue may seem one sided, but it is not. The knowledge gained through investigations using animals may also help animals. Scientists now know how to treat animals’ ailments and perform surgeries for them also. Through further research endangered species may even be preserved through an understanding of genomes.

The benefits from animal testing are too great to ignore. From the simple pill taken to relieve allergies, to an extensive heart surgery (for humans and animals alike), everyone takes for granted the overwhelming advantages available because of animal testing. And though no one can give a definite direction to biomedical technology, genetic engineering, and the future of medicine, all must come to realize that progression will not occur without proper research and testing. And those will not occur without animals, whom without we would not survive.

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