• Question: What are your views on animal testing?

    Asked by laurenlowe to Craig, Devon, Marta, Natalie, Nicholas on 6 Mar 2017. This question was also asked by SyonScience, Banana Adrien.
    • Photo: Natalie Doig

      Natalie Doig answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      That is a very important question. I believe that if there are no other options and you have an important scientific question then it is reasonable to use animals. The use of animals in research is very regulated in the UK, and this is a good thing because it means that we have to justify why and how we are going to use animals. I also think that this is something that people should think about and research in order to make up your own mind.

    • Photo: Nicholas Younger

      Nicholas Younger answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      I think animal testing is important but only if there is no other alternative. One of the main reasons I do my research in mini-organs is because they are good at being an alternative to animal research for the experiments I am doing. In the past my research would be done in animals, but now there’s an alternative.

      But it’s important to understand that animals are very complex, like humans. And if you want to treat a human with a new medicine, the only thing that is close is an animal. If a medicine works in cells in a dish in the lab, that doens’t mean that it will be safe in a human. But if it is safe in an animal then you are more sure that it would be suitable for humans.

      It’s a hard questions, but there would be no way to find new medicines for humans if it wasn’t for animal testing.

      It’s a very personal questions to each individual. It’s important you understand all about this topic and come to your own conclusions.

    • Photo: Marta Varela

      Marta Varela answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      This is a very difficult question… I am vegetarian and try not to harm animals as much as possible (as I believe everyone does).

      I do think that the potential benefits of what you learn from experiments in animals can outweigh the suffering that you may be causing them. Some research that is done in animals can be done using other means (like computer models of organs, which is what I do) and I think we should try very hard to only do experiments in animals when there is absolutely no other option.

      I feel very sad though when I hear about violence against people who do research using animals. Violence is never justified, even if you really disagree very strongly with what other people are doing.

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