For my argument paper last term I wrote about animal testing. I wrote about hot it was wrong and how it was actually inaccurate because of the differences in the genetic makeup of humans and the animals tested. Well thanks to scientists at the King's College London and San Francisco Veteran Affairs Medical Center, along with other members of this international team, a great alternative has been invented. This breakthrough could lead to the end of animal testing all together, which is the goal that I personally want achieved.
The team developed the first lab-grown epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). This means that something that is genuinely human can test certain drugs or creams and see how an actual human would react. Before we tested animals, such as cats or mice, and we had to get a rough estimate of whether or not a product would work for humans. Many times they did not work, which was just a waste of time and effort. While this is a great breakthrough and it will certainly allow reduction of animal testing, I want to press scientists to continue this type of work.
While this lab-grown skin is awesome for testing some products, others simply need more to go on than just skin. For example skin cancer could be tested, but there are several other forms that wouldn't be able to be tested without animals, which is what we don't want. However with the type of research these scientists are doing it is plausible that we will soon be able to produce any part of the human body that we want to. This would be a huge step forward in the fight against major diseases, and in the effort to end animal testing. We would be able to get better results more efficiently, and animals wouldn't have to suffer any longer.
I understand that some people will argue that stem cell research is wrong (this is the type of research being used to produce this lab-grown skin) but I encourage you to look at all the benefits that can come out of it. If we have the resources, the people, and the technology to produce something that could prevent both the deaths of many humans (by providing cures for many diseases) and that could stop all animal testing, which is a cruel and unjust practice, why would we not do it? I feel that if we don't utilize this new research we are doing more harm than good, I just ask you to do some research of the pros, as opposed to only looking at the cons.
I am very excited that this type of research has surfaced so soon after I had voiced my concerns of the animal testing situation. This alternative could really be a solution to that problem, and to many others as well. It will definitely speed up the process of making new disease cures, and maybe one day this technology could lead to a disease free world.
The team developed the first lab-grown epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). This means that something that is genuinely human can test certain drugs or creams and see how an actual human would react. Before we tested animals, such as cats or mice, and we had to get a rough estimate of whether or not a product would work for humans. Many times they did not work, which was just a waste of time and effort. While this is a great breakthrough and it will certainly allow reduction of animal testing, I want to press scientists to continue this type of work.
While this lab-grown skin is awesome for testing some products, others simply need more to go on than just skin. For example skin cancer could be tested, but there are several other forms that wouldn't be able to be tested without animals, which is what we don't want. However with the type of research these scientists are doing it is plausible that we will soon be able to produce any part of the human body that we want to. This would be a huge step forward in the fight against major diseases, and in the effort to end animal testing. We would be able to get better results more efficiently, and animals wouldn't have to suffer any longer.
I understand that some people will argue that stem cell research is wrong (this is the type of research being used to produce this lab-grown skin) but I encourage you to look at all the benefits that can come out of it. If we have the resources, the people, and the technology to produce something that could prevent both the deaths of many humans (by providing cures for many diseases) and that could stop all animal testing, which is a cruel and unjust practice, why would we not do it? I feel that if we don't utilize this new research we are doing more harm than good, I just ask you to do some research of the pros, as opposed to only looking at the cons.
I am very excited that this type of research has surfaced so soon after I had voiced my concerns of the animal testing situation. This alternative could really be a solution to that problem, and to many others as well. It will definitely speed up the process of making new disease cures, and maybe one day this technology could lead to a disease free world.
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