• Question: Do you agree with testing on animals? Call me mean, but isnt it important to find stuff out by testing on them?

    Asked by tessa to Chris, Kay, Kerstin, Lorna, Liv on 18 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Kerstin Zechner

      Kerstin Zechner answered on 18 Mar 2010:

      I don’t think that’s mean, I think it’s realistic. Unfortunately, it has to happen so we can find solutions to cure diseases and if it happens in a controlled manner with causing the animals as little suffering as possible, it can only have benefits.

    • Photo: Olivia Hibbitt

      Olivia Hibbitt answered on 18 Mar 2010:

      Hi tessa,

      unfortunately you are completely right! Most scientists I know don’t particularly like the fact they have to use animals but the truth is we currently don’t have any alternative! Sometimes you can do everything you can in cells….you think you have an amazing system or you’ve figured something great out….but a cell isn’t a whole animal and when you repeat your experiments there you may get VERY different results!
      Take my work for example, when I first started I was using viruses to get DNA into cells. It worked PERFECTLY in cells and we thought ‘awesome, nobel prize here we come’. As soon as I tried to treat my animals with it nothing happened!!! So we had to go back to square one! The good thing about this is I now have a MUCH better system that is actually working!

    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 18 Mar 2010:

      I agree with medical research on animals, because the potential human health benefits are so big. Its very hard to understand complex diseases (such as cancer, or alzheimers) without looking at the disease progression in animals.

      however, I am very against cosmetic testing on animals.

    • Photo: Lorna Houlihan

      Lorna Houlihan answered on 19 Mar 2010:

      I agree with you – I think that it’s important to test medicines, cosmetics and other chemicals such as washing up powders on animals to make sure that they are suitable for humans. Of course, they should also be tested on humans to make sure they are safe before using them on everyone.

    • Photo: Chris Needham

      Chris Needham answered on 19 Mar 2010:

      Yes, when conducted in a humane way.

Comments

  • Photo: pingvin

    pingvin commented on :

    I think that it spells out the end of the human race if we start giving animals the same rights as human; we are the superior species after all, and to ensure our survival we should test on animals, but of course only in a humane way. we shouldn’t be unnecesarily cruel! If testing on a few animals could save thousands of lives, then surely in the greater picture of things it is worth it.