Some people argue that all experimentation on animals is bad and should be outlawed. However, others believe that important scientific discoveries can be made from animal experiments. Can experimentation on animals be justified? Are there any alternatives? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

There are a variety of reasons why scientists experiment with

animals

ranging from cosmetic to behavioural and pharmaceutical. I believe that some of these are easier to justify than others but there are

also

alternatives to animal testing that need to be developed

further

. One reason for testing on

animals

is for the development of new cosmetics.

This

sector has generated a great deal more criticism than others as it is much more superficial. Critics argue that these new products are largely unnecessary and that the suffering of

animals

does not justify the end product.

Furthermore

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Furthermore,

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there are many cosmetics that have been developed without the need for animal tests. Another of the most common reasons for animal testing is the development of new drugs. These drugs can

then

be used to treat both

animals

and humans. Indeed, many chronic illnesses are now treatable because of animal testing and it is

for

this

reason that proponents of animal testing argue that it is so vital.

However

,

this

is a subjective argument as it values the lives of humans above the suffering of

animals

. These arguments relate solely to animal testing,

however

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however,

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there are alternatives to

this

currently being researched. Over the

last

few

years

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years,

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there have been scientific breakthroughs with regards to improvements in testing on cells and human tissue. If these were to be extended there would be no need for any

animals

to suffer. Another possibility is to use computer models to test new items. In conclusion, for some

people

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people,

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the testing of pharmaceutical drugs on

animals

is entirely justified and appropriate.

Although

I would agree with

this

to an extent and would argue that human lives are more important than

animals

, I

also

think that the alternatives to animal testing need to be

further

developed.