Lecture-7:

Ethics in Animal
Subjects

Scientific Ethics and

Safety
ENGR / SCI 304
Sherif H. El-Gohary , Phd
Assistant Professor,Biomedical Engineering
shamdy@zewailcity.edu.eg
Animal Research and
Alternatives

Learning objectives
• Know basic facts of animal research
• Explain why animal models are used
• Assess whether the 3Rs are moral

Starter:
What do you think when
someone says “animal testing” or
“animal research”
Animal Testing
 Previously we
looked at the use of
animals in
spaceflight to
further our
understanding of the
space environment.
 The use of animals
in scientific testing
has always been, and
will continue to be a
controversial
subject.
 Animal Testing
• While controversial, it is an
unavoidable fact that animal
research has allowed the
development of medicines
and vaccines, surgical
techniques and advanced
scientific understanding in
many areas.
 Animal Testing
 It is estimated that between 50 and 100 million
animals are used in research each year.

 Some are purpose bred for testing but many

are still caught in the wild.
 History
Animals used for the pursuit of science
• Alcmaeon (500 B.C.)
• Aristotle ( 384 – 322 BC )
dissected animals to study their anatomy
• Galen (129 – 199 AD )
demonstrations on live pigs - now known as vivisection.
 History
William Harvey (1628)- animal experiments
to study heart function and movement
of blood.
Rene Descartes -(1596-1630)
“I think therefore I am”
Francis Bacon
“Observation is the basis of all scientific knowledge”
•There are three main types of
animal testing…
 PRODUCT TESTING
• Test safety of products after consumption
• Usually cosmetic testing

RESEARCH
• Performed for advancements in medicine and
science
• Usually experiments with new drugs

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Range from high school dissection to training
medical students at University
Current Uses of Laboratory
animals
• Biomedical Research
• Regulatory Requirements
• Quality Control Measures
• Training
• Demonstrations
Why are animals used?

Researchers aim to understand how our

body functions (physiology) and the
diseases that affect us (pathology).
They must study living systems and the
effect that diseases have on them – this
often involves research that would not be
ethical to carry out on humans, so animals
are used.
Despite the difference in appearance
between humans and animals they have a
very similar biology (they are anatomically
similar). Even mice and men are around
99% genetically similar.
Which Percentage Applies To Which
Animals?

Fish
Birds

Rats
Mice

Reptiles /
Amphibians Other
Mammals
 Reptiles /
Amphibians

Other
Mammals Rats
Fish
Mice

Birds
Pop Quiz – Question 1

How many procedures were carried out in

2012?

A. 411,000 procedures
B. 4,110,000 procedures
C. 41,100,000 procedures
Pop Quiz – Question 2
What proportion of research animals are
primates?

A. 0.1%
B. 1%
C. 10%
Pop Quiz – Question 3

How many animals are used to test

cosmetics each year?

A. None
B. 50,000
C. 1.2 million
Pop Quiz – Question 4
Which of the following species are not
used in medical research?

A. Fruit Flies
B. Chimpanzees
C. Goats
 Pop Quiz – Answers
1. (B) 4.11 million procedures are carried
out on 4.03 million animals
2. (A) <0.1%, or about 2,200 primates are
used in research, mainly into diseases
of the brain
3. (A) Cosmetic testing was banned in
the UK in 1998
4. (B) The use of great apes for research
was banned in 1986.
 Classifications of animal
research
Animal research can be divided in to several
classifications based on study type.
Experimental designs and procedure are precisely
specified and implemented with in each study and
the use of any animal must be justified.
Animal research are of following types:
Basic research.
Applied research.
Toxicology testing.
Xeno transplantation.
 Cont…………

BASIC RESEARCH:
The goal is to investigate how organisms develop,
function & behave.

These studies include embryogenesis and

developmental biology, behavior, evolution and
genetics.

Mice and rats account for the vast majority.

Cont…………

APPLIED RESEARCH:
The primary purpose is to solve a specific or practical
problem.

These studies may involve naturally occurring

diseases, induced animal models of human diseases or
genetically modified animals.

Applied often represents the early stage in the drug

discovery process.
 Cont…………

TOXICOLOGY TESTING :
This is generally performed by pharmaceutical
companies or contract animal testing facilities to test
drugs and other chemicals.
Today all the new drugs must under go rigorous
animal testing prior to licensing for human use.
Cosmetic testing fall within this category, and it has
become particularly controversial in recent years.
Toxicology testing's are of three types:
Acute toxicity testing.
Chronic toxicity testing.
 TOXICOLOGY
TESTING'S
ACUTE TOXICITY : Acute toxicity studies are required
for all drugs. These studies involve single administration
of the agent up to lethal level in at least two species.

CHRONIC TOXICITY : chronic toxicity is a property of a

substance that has toxic effects on a living organism,
when that organism is exposed to the substance
continuously or repeatedly .
Cont…………

XENO TRANSPLANTATION:
This is the study of transplanting tissues or organs
from one species to another.

It is currently viewed as a mechanism to overcome

the shortage of human organs for organ
transplantation.

Recently clinical trials evaluated the transplantation

pf pig insulin secreting cells in to diabetics.
Measuring Pain and
Suffering in Animal Testing

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines

a painful procedure as one that would
“reasonably be expected to cause more than
slight or momentary pain or distress in a
human being to which the procedure was
applied”
• Do you think this is a valid way to measure
suffering in animal tests?
Measuring Pain and Suffering in
Animal Testing
 In the UK experiments are
classified as mild,
moderate or substantial in
the amount of suffering
they cause an animal.
 A fourth category of
unclassified is used when
the animal is anaesthetized
but killed before regaining
consciousness.
Measuring Pain and Suffering in
Animal Testing

• In December 2001 the breakdown of

experimental licenses was:
• 39% mild
• 55% moderate
• 2% substantial
• 4% unclassified
• Does this seem a reasonable breakdown to you?
Is Animal Testing Morally
Right?
• The argument between pro-animal testing
parties and opponents to animal testing
hinges on whether it is ethical.
 Is Animal Testing Morally
Right?
 Advocates for animal testing say:
 Human life has greater intrinsic
value than animal life
 Legislation protects all lab
animals from cruelty or
mistreatment
 Millions of animals are killed
every year for food, is medical
research not a more worthy
death
 Few animals feel pain and are
killed before they suffer
 Is Animal Testing Morally
Right?
 Opponents to animal testing say:
 Animals have as much right to live as humans
 Strict controls have not prevented some animals
being abused, though such instances are rare
 Deaths for research are unnecessary
 Animals suffer while they are locked up and how
do we know when they do and don’t feel pain
Using animals for
biomedical research
“Evokes strong emotions”
3 viewpoints are observed

The animal activist’s viewpoint

The scientist’s viewpoint
The philosopher’s viewpoint
The Scientist’s Viewpoint

Animals are not the only biosystem in use.

If not animals then experiments in humans under
uncontrolled conditions.
Animal research vital to medical progress.
In vitro alternatives provide supplementary
information and work only as adjuncts.
Certain life processes cannot be investigated
without involving whole animal systems.
The Philosopher’s Viewpoint
2 schools of thought
Cost of animal research benefited mankind to
justify moral trespass.
Human life has a value higher than other lives.

The philosopher helps to bridge the gap between the

scientists and animal activists.
The Animal Activist’s
Viewpoint
Animals are exposed to too much
suffering.
Better alternatives than animal
research.
Superior human life does not confer the
right to exploit inferior order’s life.
The three differing viewpoints appear valid and
reasonable when seen separately.

Is a reconciliation possible ?

Yes ! If a common goal of a common good has to be

achieved.
The 3Rs
The 3Rs are principles of good science designed by
scientists to improve animal welfare and scientific
accuracy.
Refinement – Finding ways of
making animals’ lives better in labs,
this can include toys for animals or
better training for technicians
Reduction – Using as few animals as
possible to get good results
Replacement – Using non-animal
alternatives wherever they exist
 Alternatives
Scientists use many ways to try to replace animals used
in research. These include using cell cultures, computer
modelling and human studies.
Researchers must, by law, use these techniques if they
would be as effective as using animals.
Alternatives

Researchers also try to use the “lowest” type of animal

possible for their experiment – perhaps a fish instead of
a sheep or a fruit fly instead of a mouse.
Why do you think scientists try to replace animal use?
Why use “lower” animals – do you agree with this
idea?

or