Impact of Technology on Animal Testing Issues
Introduction
The use of animals in drug and medical testing has always been a controversial issue. Animal activists have faulted medical researchers for using animals as test subjects for new drugs. Animal testing is currently a multi- billion dollar industry that encompasses chemical and pharmaceutical industries, government bodies as well as university research centers. Millions of animals are subjected to intensive pains and stress in the course of experimental procedures and are exposed to very harsh environments for medical and drug research purposes (Kolar 112). The most common animals used animal testing include rats, mice, primates, rabbits, dogs and cats and at any given time, many of them are locked in barren and cold cages in medical and chemical laboratories across the world where they languish in loneliness and pain and wait for the next terrifying and painful procedure (Kolar 113). It is such ethical issues that have catapulted the debate on animal testing to enormous levels. However in recent years, alternatives to animals testing have emerged with technology advent being the main facilitator of this. Elements of technology including computer modelling and simulation are increasingly revitalizing the drug testing industry and in few years to come, animal testing will be rendered obsolete.
The last few decades have witnessed massive technological advent across all disciplines of science. Technology has availed new ways of doing things and has brought more effective and efficient procedures. The fields of biotechnology, biochemistry and medicine have particularly witnessed massive revolution brought about by technological shifts. For instance, technology has enables new procedures that give information and data that could not be produced with traditional procedures (Hester and Harrison 15). This is the case when it comes to medical research, particularly drug research. Since time immemorial, drug researchers who come up with new drugs have used animals as the main test subjects. This is because drug testing in human subjects has been outlawed by global medical bodies such as the WHO. However, combined efforts between academicians from the disciplines of medicine, biology and computer science have seen the development of alternative means for drug testing (Balls 197). As mentioned earlier, computer modeling has been one of the avenues through which this has been realized.
In simple terms, a computer model refers to a computer program created to stimulate or resemble a real life system. Computer modeling assists in designing, creating and evaluating complex systems and is often used by program managers, designer’s engineers and analysts to understand and also evaluate the case scenarios of “what if”. This discipline of computer technology helps in the creation of a model of the actual system and becomes extremely useful if for example, changes to the real system are costly, unethical (as is the case in drug testing on humans and animals), difficult to implement or even impractical (Hester and Harrison 15).
Currently, computer scientists and biologists are growing mini-human organs in laboratories or creating human biological system models on a computer system (Balls 198). These synthetically created organs or body system are then used as alternatives to animals when it comes to drug and medical testing (Balls 199). Scientists have, for instance, been able to create devices that simulate the micro- environment of common human organs.
A perfect exemplification of the use of technology to create such as device is contained in an article in the Harvard Crimson, whereby scientists at the Harvard research Centre have created a device that mimics the human small intestines. According to Fatima Mirza, the author of the article, researchers at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering have recently crossed a huge milestone in the development of new biomedical technology that could potentially mean an end to animal testing. The researchers have been able to create a device known as “gut-on-a-chip” that essentially “simulates the microenvironment of the human intestine” (Mirza, n.p). This is by creating some shrunken three- dimensional framework or scaffold that supports both the growth and development of the human own cells, including the microbes used for various body physiological processes such as digestion and normal physiology (Mirza n.p). The human intestine mimic essentially consists of a “single layer of human intestinal epithelial cells” that is growing on a flexible and porous membrane- which is a recreation of the intestinal barrier (Mirza, n.p). Proper implementation of the device can result in the mimicking of the digestive tracts’ peristaltic motion and essentially facilitate the growth and development of crucial intestinal microbes (Mirzi, n.p). According to the team leader, Donald E. Ingber, the team is further focused on the creation of systems that can essentially address fundamental problems in therapeutic research and modern pharmacology. Ingber is further quoted saying that the inspiration and motivation behind the creation of this phenomenal device is the realization of the huge crisis that exists in getting drugs and medicine through the development stages as well as the clinical trials (Mirzi, n.p). In addition, Ingber acknowledges the problem associated with animal testing- that is- it does not give an accurate depiction or prediction of the impact on humans (Mirzi, n.p).
The use of such an alternative not only eliminates the unethical issues that plagues animal testing, but also have overwhelming advantages over this kind of testing (Kolar 118). Although animal testing remains a regulatory requirement for any new drugs being developed before they are patented and shipped into the market, the main downside to this is that animals testing can never truly predict how a drug will react in humans. The effect of certain drugs on humans has already been proven to be significantly different from the effect on animals. For example, a drug such as Acetaminophen has been found to have therapeutic value in humans but when it comes to cats, it is highly poisonous. Morphine as a drug gives a calming effect to humans but when given to cats, it leads to hyper-excitement (Balls 200). In addition, the formerly popular drug, penicillin revolutionized human health but when injected to a guinea pig, it was extremely toxic. Finally, there are some oral contraceptives that have been found to increase the risk of fast blood clotting in humans but when given to animals such as dogs, they have been found to prolong the time it takes for blood to clot (Balls 200). While it is true that humans and animals share a lot of genetic similarities, when it comes to sensitive issues such as medical therapy, no chances should be taken. This is where technological models have an advantage. Virtual models of the human systems are likely to give a more reliable prediction of the impact of the drug on the actual human system. In addition, computer recreations of human biological system and organs allows the inducement of high dosages of drugs than would be the case with animals (Hunter 11). New technology in regard to medical testing will allow scientists to trail more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of medical prognoses and cellular pathways (Hunter 11). The ultimate result is the creation or production of more effective drugs and the elimination of the need for the cruel and inhumane act that is animal testing.
This kind of technology has been widely embraced by scientists, and they are increasingly using it to make drug testing not only cheaper and faster, but also ethical and more accurate. Animal testing is slowly being replaced by computer models that depict the interaction of drugs and chemicals and human bodies (Hunter 11). The use of technology is expected to be utilized to a point whereby all the impact of a drug on the human body can be accurately predicted without the necessity for testing on animals.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, the intensive debate on the ethics of animal testing in drug and medical research has prompted scientists and researchers to come with alternative ways of developing and testing drugs. At the center stage of this movement has been technology that has enabled the development of new testing mechanisms with the primary one being computer modelling. The use of technology has resulted in the creation of model subjects that in addition to eliminating the unethical element associated with animal testing has been found to have added advantages. The main advantage of this is more accurate prediction of the impact of the drug on the human system, something that has been missing in animal testing. If this trend continues at the current rate, it is expected that in the next two decades, elements of technology including computer modelling will completely revitalize the drug testing industry and animal testing will be rendered obsolete.
Works cited
Balls, Michael. "Replacement of animal procedures: alternatives in research, education and testing." Laboratory Animals 28.3 (1994): 193-211.
Hester, Ronald E., and Roy M. Harrison, eds. Alternatives to animal testing. Vol. 23. Royal Society of Chemistry, 2006.
Hunter, Robert G.. "Alternatives to Animal Testing Drive Market." Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News 34.1 (2014): 11-11. Print.
Kolar, Roman. "Animal experimentation." Science and Engineering Ethics 12.1 (2006): 111-122.
Mirza, Fatima. "'Gut-on-a-Chip' Mimics Human Intestine | News | The Harvard Crimson." 'Gut-on-a-Chip' Mimics Human Intestine | News | The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/4/6/gut-on-a-chip-intestine/>.
