Introduction
For years, the scientific community has relied on animals for research purposes (Watson, 2009). By carrying out tests on these animals, this community has been able to gain insights into a wide range of issues. Despite the benefits that the use of animals has presented, it has given rise to controversy (Liou, 2010). There is a camp that calls for the academic and research communities to end their use of animals for research. They contend that this use amounts to animal cruelty (“Cruelty to Animals”, n.d). There is another camp that pushes for the continued use of animals for scientific research. Each side raises interesting arguments to support its position. In this paper, the question of the use of animals in research is examined. The paper also explores a genetic research method and the role that it plays in shedding light on genetic factors.
Animals in research
In his discussion on the use of animals in research, Neil Carlson appears to support this use. He argues that the use of animals has enabled the scientific community to understand the functioning of the human brain. One of the reasons that Carlson offers to support his position is that the humane treatment of animals justifies their use for research (Carlson, 2013). He argues further that the research community possesses the tools needed to ensure that the animals are treated properly. He adds that there are ethical guidelines that were developed to provide researchers with direction on how to treat animals. Carlson also mentions that the research community understands that laboratories and other environments in which research is conducted need to be sanitary (Carlson, 2013). Unsanitary conditions could expose the animals to hazards that hamper comfort and cause pain. Carlson argues further that the surgical procedures that are in use ensure that the animals do not develop infections. All these measures guarantee that the animals are treated humanely.
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To make the point made above clearer, an example is necessary. The example of rats to be used in a study can be considered. The researchers behind this study understand the need to minimize pain and ensure comfort. They administer anesthetics on the rats. This is done with the aim of ensuring that the rats do not suffer pain. This action is in line with ethical guidelines that guide animal experimentation. The guidelines demand that researchers must shield the animals from unnecessary pain (Monamy, 2009). The administration of anesthetics and the provision of a safe and comfortable environment are among the measures that can be instituted to comply with these guidelines.
As already mentioned, Carlson appears to justify animal experimentation. The other reason that he offers to support his stance regards the benefits that animal experimentation yields for mankind (Carlson, 2013). He begins by offering numerous examples where animals are exploited. He offers the example of keeping animals as pets. He argues that since humans make decisions regarding the fate and lives of their pets, the keeping of pets amounts to exploitation (Carlson, 2013). He seems to suggest that it is almost impossible to avoid animal exploitation. He then suggests that to assess the ethical standing of animal experimentation, it is important to examine whether it is worthwhile. This means that the benefits and the costs of animal experimentation must be examined. While it is true that animal experimentation is some form of exploitation, it must be recognized that thanks to animal experimentation, the research community has made great strides in understanding how the human mind functions. Carlson adds that the use of animals in research is simply indispensable (Carlson, 2013). Without animals, mankind would be unable to train professionals and gain insights into how diseases develop and how they can be treated.
The argument provided above can be made clearer with an example. Consider the millions of animals that are abandoned and the many more that killed every year for their meat. Many animals are facing the threat of extinction as a result of these activities. How is animal experimentation any different from poaching or the killing of animals for food? Animal experimentation stands apart because it yields real benefits for the whole of mankind. While poaching only benefits a few selfish individuals, animal experimentation ensures that the benefits trickle down. Thanks to animal experimentation, the farmer in some remote village in Tanzania and the New York banker will all receive improved treatment. The use of animals in research has enabled mankind to address many of the health challenges that it faces. Therefore, the use of animals in research is necessary and ethically justifiable.
Genetic methods
Genetic factors are among the forces that shape how an individual develops. If there are flaws in the genetic makeup of an individual, healthy development cannot be guaranteed. The important role that genetics plays in shaping human development has led to the development of various methods for studying genetics. Thanks to these methods, mankind has been able to understand the link between genetics and physiological characteristics. Twin studies are among the genetic methods that are in common use today (Carlson, 2013). As the name suggests, these studies focus on twins. They are used to investigate if genetics are responsible for a certain observed condition or illness (Townsend et al., 2015). Essentially, twin studies involve examining the genetic makeup of twins and whether they exhibit certain characteristics. Both monozygotic and dizygotic twins can be recruited for these studies (Carlson, 2013). While the former type of twins possess identical genetic maps, the latter shares a 50% similarity in genetic composition. The twin studies work by revealing any similarities in the behavior of twins (Carlson, 2013). If it is found that both twins possess certain traits or display a given behavior, it can be concluded that genetics is responsible for the trait or the behavior. On the other hand, if the trait or behavior has been observed in only one twin, then the researcher can confidently rule out genetics as the cause of the trait or behavior.
Examples can help to shed further light on how twin studies are used to gain insights into the function of genetics. Consider a researcher who wishes to understand if there is any role that genetics plays in the development of schizophrenia. The researcher recruits twins who share a genetic makeup. If the researcher observes that the medical condition is suffered by both twins, they may link genetics to the development of this condition. This example highlights how twin studies are used to understand medical conditions. Researchers routinely use these studies to gain insights into the role that genetics play in the development of these conditions (Videbeck, 2010). A second example may be considered. Suppose a researcher suspects that a given condition is hereditary. The researcher recruits twins and their parent. If the researcher observes that the same trait or behavior is exhibited by both the parent and the twins, it may be concluded that genetics has played a role.
In conclusion, thanks to the efforts of researchers, it has become possible to develop safer and more effective medical approaches. These gains can be attributed in part to animal experimentation. While it remains contentious and controversial, animal experimentation has propelled science to new heights. Genetic methods have also played a role in the advancement of science. Such methods as twin studies have allowed researchers to identify the link between genetics and various conditions. The role that these methods and animal experimentation have played underscores the need for greater effort and commitment from the research community.
References
Carlson. N. R. (2013). Physiology of Behavior. 11th Edition. New York: Pearson.
Cruelty to Animals in Laboratories. (n.d). Retrieved 7th March 2017 from
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animals-laboratories/
Liou, S. (2010). Animal Research: The Ethics of Animal Experimentation. Retrieved 7th
March 2017 from http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/animal-research/
Monamy, V. (2009). Animal Experimentation: A Guide to the Issues. Cambridge: Cambridge
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Townsend, G. C., Pinkerton, S. K., Rogers, J. R., Bockmann, M. R., & Hughes, T. E. (2015).
Twin Studies: Research in Genes, Teeth and Faces. Adelaide: University of Adelaide
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Videbeck, S. L. (2010). Psychiatric Mental Health Counseling. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
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Watson, S. (2009). Animal Testing: Issues and Ethics. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group.
