Should testing on live animals be banned? | The Tylt
Critics of live animal testing say the practice is cruel and unnecessary. Instead, researchers can use alternatives like computer modeling to conduct their research. Researchers say animal testing is essential to accurately assess the effects of a drug or vaccine. Computer models cannot capture the complexity of a live animal. What do you think?

Critics argue technology provides viable alternatives to animal testing. Computer models are able to accurately replicate complex systems. In vitro methods allow scientists to see the mechanisms and effects of a substance. There are few good reasons to test on animals.
Today—because experiments on animals are cruel, expensive, and generally inapplicable to humans—the world’s most forward-thinking scientists have moved on to develop and use methods for studying diseases and testing products that replace animals and are actually relevant to human health. These modern methods include sophisticated tests using human cells and tissues (also known as in vitro methods), advanced computer-modeling techniques (often referred to as in silico models), and studies with human volunteers. These and other non-animal methods are not hindered by species differences that make applying animal test results to humans difficult or impossible, and they usually take less time and money to complete.
Animals have contributed to major advances in science and medicine. The alternatives put forward by critics are unable to truly replicate an animal's biological system.
Primate research has been the bridge from the lab to the clinic for a number of groundbreaking treatments, including vaccines for mumps, measles, yellow fever, anthrax and hepatitis B.Yet critics of animal research claim that such testing is unnecessary. They argue that computer models can effectively replace animal models.They're delusional. Consider, for example, the complexity of the human brain, which has about 100 billion neurons and 1 quadrillion synapses.In 2014, researchers in Japan attempted to simulate brain activity by using a supercomputer with over 700,000 processor cores. It took the computers 40 minutes of whirring to effectively replicate what the brain does in one second.Primates, on the other hand, can effectively imitate human brains. And that fact has led to numerous treatments.
Here are perspectives from people who want to see animal testing ended for good.
To continue to support animal testing research & companies that rely on it is to live on ignorance & not evolve science for the better
— お金 (@haytheredalila) November 16, 2016
#ReasonsToGoVegan being cruelty free means not supporting animal testing so these bunnies can live happy lives🐰💓 pic.twitter.com/oSKzHIbfWx
— Peachy🎄 (@elemeno_) July 24, 2016
Screw animal testing. How could you live with yourself? https://t.co/dVgkIaTTh6
— Maddi Mordica {Leo} (@maddi_mordica) July 28, 2016
Here are perspectives from people who think animal testing is necessary.
@amaenad And medicines. I object to animal testing but I survive on medicines tested on animals. I'd rather sacrifice morals &live.
— Ruth Gregson (@RG_Bhaji) November 29, 2016
@TheSafestSpace I disagree, animal testing is completely necessary for the advancement of medicine.
— Manly-Chicken (@Manly_Chicken) December 9, 2016
Animal testing is a necessary evil, for all the potential life saving things that could come from it. https://t.co/RGzj6tYtO8
— Skeptic Kev (@WeaponXKP21) November 20, 2016