Animal testing: is it justified?
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By Lily Holbrook
Throughout the history of scientific research, animal testing has revolutionised our understanding of psychological and physical health. However, this has not come without widespread ethical debate. Following the shocking news that Swedish researchers are to euthanise six Labradors in the name of science, can we justify harming animals for human benefit?
It is undeniable that we have learnt a lot about humans based on studies that have been conducted on animals. From the shocking effects of maternal deprivation shown to us by Harlow’s monkeys in the 1950s, to the finding that neurotransmitter levels in the brain can alter emotional state following tests on rodents the decade later, we are becoming increasingly well-equipped to maximise human health through discoveries made by testing on animals.
While the latter of these examples may be justified by its important application in the development of anti-depressants, there are other experiments where the benefits to hu...
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