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Asked by ciaramaher to Adam, Chris, Eleanor, Jessamyn, Sinead on 11 Nov 2013.
Question: Do you find its cruel to kill innocent animals for science?
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Adam Murphy answered on 11 Nov 2013:
This is such a tough question, but one that always needs to be asked! U;ve had classes on this, and hour long debates with my friends, So well done!
Trust me, no good scientist is happy that animals are killed, it sucks. But, unfortunately, I also think it’s necessary, for the moment anyway.
We use animals to test what chemicals work to treat certain diseases and how much we need to do it, and how much is an overdose. If we tested that on people, we would kill them too. And these are things that need to be done.
There are computer models, but they can’t predict the unexpected yet, and we could use synthetic organs, but that’s not enough. We need to know what effect a drug for the lungs will have on the stomach, and on the brain.
I have to say though, this is my opinion and I’d love to hear yours, there’s no right answer here, and I can’t wait for the day we don’t need animal testing, but right now I think we do.
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Sinead Cullen answered on 11 Nov 2013:
Hi Ciara,
This is a major question that is asked a lot in the area of Science. Animal testing is hugely regulated. There are tons are rules you must obey to ever use animals for testing. You also have to attend a lot of courses and do exams to even learn how to handle animals for testing. And you must get a mark of 60% to pass theses exams and they are very hard. You are also marked on how well you can pick up and carefully hold the animals. Where the animals are housed (rats and mice are the ones Ive worked with) are really clean and well looked after. The animals are happy.
I think it is necessary to use animals for testing to develop better drugs for people who are really sick and need help.
But remember animal testing is the last thing we do before the drugs get tested I’m humans, we always use an alternative where possible!Hope this helps!
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Eleanor Holmes answered on 13 Nov 2013:
Thankfully there is very little killing of animals (innocent or otherwise) in Nanoscience. In our experiments the most we have to worry about is our circuits being (electrically) alive!
Comments
ciaramaher commented on :
I still disagree with animal testing,animals are living things too with feelings familys friends emotion and if anything they have more of a right to live.Animals don’t go pollutioning the world,causing wars,destroying homes etc . Basically another name for humans is destruction.We contribute towards destruction even by doing the simplest things e.g. driving to school etc.
Animals have never attacked or harmed any living thing for an unessacery reason.With this day and age animal testing has to stop.No matter how well looked after they are they will never be able to know what its like to have freedom , to be free of pain…….I strongly support ARAN and PETA as they are strongly against this topic also.
I have a question for yous……would you inject your child or other family member with chemicals what puts them in excructating pain? or could potientally kill them? lock them in small cages?
I don’t think anybody in there right mind would , so why do it to animals the only difference from them and us is we don’t think about how they feel through the procedure of animal testing.
Beagals are one of the animals most tested on , that beagal could start a family live with a human family!!!make itself happy and its human child happy ive seen,handled and cared for the types of animals what are tested on.They give you more love and affection then any human would.We have machines for testing,i know there not perfect but if we stop for once and think more about science then all thse fancy phones and cars then maybe we can end this animal neglect and torture once and for all
I hope you see my point im trying make and I hope you see my side to it
it was nice hearing your ideas but I think ill stick to my own
Thankyou
ellsbells commented on :
i like your comment ciara i get your point! x
Eleanor commented on :
Hi Ciara,
I’m not going to debate with you here, but I think you should debate this issue. It’s obviously something you feel very strongly about and that’s a great start. Now all you need to do is hone your arguments through research and debate. A really good exercise is to argue from the other side. Try to think of any reasons against your position (dig deep, the better the reason against you, the stronger your position if you can still effectively argue against it!). Look for information from many sources and perspectives. If I have an opinion this first thing I do is find someone who feels the other way and talk to them, without trying to change their minds, but also without changing my own mind.
I really think you and people like you can be effective agents for change, but you need to be armed with facts and research and knowledge of the opposition.
I see that one of your goals is to be a vet – an admirable choice – but perhaps your fire would be better spent as an activist. A logical, reasoned, scientific activist!
Don’t give up on your convictions and please pursue your passion for Biology in college. This country needs more educated debate!
Sinead commented on :
Hi Ciara,
I love how passionate you are about animal rights. I totally see your point and take it on board. And well done for standing up for what you believe in, its great to see you have such passion about this.
Always stick to what you believe in 🙂
Adam commented on :
Hey Ciara,
I totally get your point. And it’s a point that always needs to be brought up! This is a debate that will go on for a very long time and we’ll always need passionate people on both sides. And I’m really glad you let us know your opinion too!