Amber Sipe Source 4

What are alternatives to animal testing?

Vencatesan, Jayshree. "Alternatives To The Use Of Animals In Research, Testing And Education." Current Science (00113891) 92.8 (2007): 1038-1039. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2015.

This article is a summary of a conference for presentations and discussions on animal testing and alternatives. Most alternatives being made are in Europe and other foreign countries. The first and most popular thing discussed was the 3 R’s: Replacement, refinement, and reduction. Replacement means obviously the replacement of animals in research when able. Refinement means the deduction of stress and pain put on an animal. Reduction means fewer tests on animals, with more clear research during the few tests done. It is believed that in the next 10 years, cosmetic testing on animals will be gone. Many agencies were based off of the 3 R idea. Many agencies are now trying to decrease the use of animals in vaccines. This approach relies on non-animal test models and could include both physico- chemical methods as well as immunochemical methods like bio- sensor analysis or epitope mapping using monoclonal antibodies. Other tests have trouble getting away from the use of animals due to cost and availability of other things to use.

This source shows me that people actually are doing things to think of alternatives and some methods have already been developed. I think the 3 R’s is a really good idea and should be a law that every scientist should follow. It is good for both science and animal rights activists to know that something is being done so that both can live and do their work happily. This source answers my question for this blog.

The other sources seemed to be different sides of the argument and discussing how alternatives are necessary, but not sharing any alternatives used now. It is valuable to know what each side is doing to make the other side happy. It is good if both would work together and come up with a happy medium, which is what seems like is happening in this article.

For my next journal, I want to be asking the question of what has animal testing done to benefit humans and animals alike? So much of the bad is mentioned so I want to know about the good. So far my answers work together by telling me both sides of the argument for and against animal testing and also what can be done in place of it.