Our understanding of the humans owes a great deal to the animals used as test subjects in scientific research. Besides the controversies surrounding animal testing, it is quite true that the knowledge of human life would have remained a mystery to us. Using animals in scientific research scientists have unlocked and resolved countless medical mysteries and discovered treatments and cures of diseases which were thought to be incurable. The research has significantly helped in creation of vaccines all because of the animals used as test subjects. To believe that the animal testing is brutal and not right in terms of moral values, is just to deny the discoveries which help us through our daily lives on a scale beyond comprehension. The amount of advances made in fields of science and medicine are substantial enough to consider animal testing, an important tool to step in the future and it should be considered a necessity and morally right.

Some of the medical advances achieved through testing on animals are an excellent point to spark of a public controversy about animals used as test subjects. The testing on animals has generated effects that are beneficial to the health and safety of individuals. According to Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, chairman of the foundation for Biomedical Research (1981), “Not one advancement in the care of patients’ advancements that you use and take for granted every day – has been realized without the use of animal research.” During the course of biomedical investigations and research, the scientists have made breakthroughs and solved issues which were quite a dilemma for us as a human race. It is undeniable that every one of us humans has benefited at some point of our lives from the discoveries made during testing on animals. Blood transfusion, insulin, antibiotic etc, are a fruit of intense research and testing done on animals. Cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s disease are the challenges, almost impossible to tackle without research carried out on animals. The research carried on animals also helps better understanding of the animals it’s carried on. We need to understand it’s not only the humans that benefit from research on animals; researchers have found ways to help animals survive. When ever a new kind of virus is discovered, scientists test it on animals in order to have a better understanding that virus. The scientists observe its reaction on animals and monitor the growth of each species. This helps them understand the risks and future problems associated with that particular virus. Mice are usually used as test subjects in experiments like these. The U.S. Foundation for Biomedical Research (1981) says that “Animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century – for both human and animal health.”  The scientists deserve the same amount of appreciation as test animals because they work tirelessly in disease affected lab around the world. Animals can assist and be the pioneers that help the scientists save valuable live and continue there discoveries. In the 18th century due to lack of knowledge in developing medicines and vaccine at that time, Millions of people were killed by incurable diseases, such as smallpox, rabies, and Millions of people were killed by incurable diseases, such as smallpox, rabies, and etcetera. The People were hopeless when caught by the diseases because they knew that no one could help them. Animal testing was introduced to medicine industry by Edward Jenner (Trueman, 2002) in the mid 1800s. Incurable diseases were not incurable anymore was the sort of hope he gave be discovering and developing vaccines for smallpox by using animals helping a lot of people. His success made animal testing become commonly used in medicine industry even though he was not the first man to use animal in experiments. Animal testing has been playing an important role in producing medicines since then. Animal testing has helped millions of unhealthy people indirectly. However, animal testing is not as beneficial for the animals used as it is for the humans. Most of the animals are cruelly slaughtered during experiments and not well treated in medicine-development laboratories regardless of their great contribution to the health of world’s dwellers. Animals also have rights to be freed from suffering and treated well just like humans. The animal is also a living being whose feelings should be considered as well, we human must have an understanding of this.

No one is certain about what future holds for us, new diseases and viruses will be identified and their cures lie in the animals used as test subjects. Without doubt animal testing is the way for the human race to survive in the future.