Animals In Science

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How Animals Are Used

Every year, tens of millions of animals in the U.S. are used as models in biological and medical research to study human disease, injury, development, psychology, and anatomy and physiology. Animals often suffer greatly in these studies, as they are inflicted with diseases, traumas, and pain they would not normally experience in order to mimic human conditions. Animals in labs are kept in sterile, stressful environments that cause them to develop abnormal physiological and behavioral responses. Besides the obvious welfare implications, this also casts doubt on the validity of any results obtained using such animals.

Animal research is generally recognized to be costly, time-consuming, and unreliable, and much of the research is neither appropriate nor applicable to humans. People should not have to choose between inflicting pain and suffering on animals and finding medical cures. New technologies, alternatives, and clinical and epidemiological studies in humans can provide us better, more relevant answers without causing animal suffering.

Testing

Animals are subject to tests that assess the safety of cosmetic, personal care, household products, chemicals, medical devices, and their component ingredients. Learn More...

Biomedical Research

Every year in the U.S., millions of animals are used as models in biological and medical research to study human disease, injury, development, psychology, and anatomy and physiology. Learn More...

Dissection

Millions of animals, including over 170 species, are dissected or vivisected in schools and universities each year. Learn More...

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