Transgenic
animal models are a valuable tool for exploring many biological questions, for
better understanding diseases, and for producing new drugs to save human lives.
It is fair to say that without the use of animal’s models, the possibility of
medical breakthrough is significantly reduced. Transgenic animals allow for
more efficient scientific advancement due to the inexpensive cost of housing
lab animals, their short life cycles, and their rapid reproduction rates.
Why are we using animals as
models to investigate human diseases?
Many
animals share biological similarity with humans and the biological similarity
of animals allow closer approximation
to a human response. However, animal models of human diseases are only ideal for
investigating human disease at a given time. Even though the specific details
of how the future therapy are still not clear, each animal model of a condition
still furthers basic biological understanding and do contribute a lot to
therapeutic advancements.
Why don’t we use alternatives
to replace animals for research?
Some
animal protection societies require scientists to reduce, refine and replace
the use of animals in research. And there are many methods and technologies
invented to replace the use of animals, but completely eliminating animal
research is not possible. Techniques, such as computer modeling, micro-dosing,
MRI scanning and in vitro testing are boosted as alternatives to the use of
live animals. However, every scientific method is designed for a very specific
purpose and so those methods cannot replace each other. In vitro experiments,
which are done with molecules or cell cultures, are very good to unravel
mechanisms that happen inside the cell, but are not always so useful to find
out how different tissues and organs interact inside the body. And for all
those reasons, we will need to use live animals to answer some of the most
important scientific questions related to human health.
How we reduce animals’
suffering in labs?
Researchers
make every effort to minimize animals pain and suffering within labs. On one
hand, many of the procedures carried out on animals involve no pain or
discomfort, such as observing their behavior or collecting tissue samples after
the animal is dead. On the other hand, when some procedures do involve pain or
discomfort, some measures will be taken to alleviate their pain, such as using
anesthesia and analgesia. Besides, research labs are also trying to provide
animals with food, water and a clean, comfortable living environment. For more information about animal model visit website:
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