According to the Canadian Council of Animal Care, in 2010 roughly 211,604 animals were involved in scientific research at UBC. This accounts for only 6 percent of the total animals involved in animal research in Canada. Why are so many animals used in scientific research? What purposes are they used for? How relevant is research done on animals compared to us humans? Is it necessary to use animals in research?
Image by: Jane Ray
These are the questions that were circling in my mind as I pondered upon these numbers on the UBC website based on animal research. It gave me some insight as well as to other members of the community, the importance of animals in scientific research. It explains how the Canadian Council of Animal Care divides animals up into five categories based on invasiveness. For example, category D uses animals such as mice, rats, fish and toads and causes them minor to severe distress or discomfort, but does provide them with proper anesthesia. This includes sampling of blood or minor operations. Not only are they divided into categories, but also in terms of the purposes they are used for. One of the purposes that intrigued me was Purpose 3 since it involved drug testing. It stated that,
“Under Canadian Law all potential drugs, medical products…including vaccines used for both humans and animals must be [first] tested out on animals before clinical trials are allowed.”
I was quite shocked at this fact as it left me wondering about the production of potential drugs. For example, how would a potential drug, only being produced for human purposes was being tested in a study. According to the law, since testing is always done on animals first, how would this provide any insight as to how this drug would work on humans? I was left unanswered with this thought after reading many articles.
What I came across was this interview of Dr. Simon Festing discussing why animal research is necessary. Although Dr. Festing did say that “we share over 90 percent of our genes with a mouse…and many of the biological systems found in animals are found in human,” he never explained what differences we have and how those may account for the possible side effects found in humans. What I found most shocking was how he compared animal cruelty to how doctors mistreat their patients and how some older people in nursing homes are treated.
I had also come across the Stop Animal Research at UBC webpage and it stated that the UBC Animal Research webpage was created in 2011 for the first time releasing information about animal research done at UBC as well as relevant data and the types of animals they use (not specifying species type). Even though there is more data and information being put out for society to look at, there needs to be much more specific information for animal research so that people can understand its importance in scientific research.
Image by: Animal Connections 2009
4 responses to “Is Animal Research Necessary?”