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The UK is a world leader in high quality medical research. A small but vital
part of this involves the use of animals.
Around 3 million animals are used each year in the UK for medical and
scientific research.
In the last 10 years the total amount of medical research in the UK has more
than doubled
but the number of animals used in this research has only rIsen gradually by
about one-third.
In the last decade genetically modified animals, mainly mice have been used more
and more to study the genetic basis of human diseases,
diseases such as Cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Mice make up nearly three-quarters of the animals used.
Fish are 11%, rats 9%,
birds 4%
and other animals including rabbits and ferrets, reptiles and amphibians makeup
most of the rest.
Dogs, cats and monkeys combined, make up less than 1 % of all animals
used in the UK.
Animals are bred especially for research. They are kept in clean conditions,
to keep them disease-free and in good health.
Temperature, air quality
food
water and light levels are all closely controlled and facilities are checked
regularly by government inspectors who are all qualified doctors or vets.
These inspections make sure the highest standards are maintained.
Monkeys are important to test medicines and study illnesses like Parkinson's
disease.
The great apes
chimpanzees, gorrilas and oranguntans have not been used in the UK for
medical research for 25 years.
It is difficult to estimate the numbers of animals used in research
worldwide.
In the US it is about 20 million,
in the EU including the UK about 12 million,
Japan 5 million,
and probably about another 10 million elsewhere.
In the UK before scientists can use animals they have to justify their work
and show that they have considered possible non animal alternatives.
They have to satisfy the organisation funding their work, their colleagues and
home office inspectors that using animals is the only way forward.
The government helps to improve the quality of medical research by funding
the National center for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of animals in
research.
Improved statistical methods have reduced the number of animals needed for
toxicity testing
and animal housing is continually refined to provide animals with more natural
conditions.
In future living animals might be replaced by other methods such as
artificial organ systems.
Animal research has already given us treatments such as vaccines and
antibiotics
and now offers the promise of treatment for malaria, cancer
and even the diseases of old age.
Ultimately,
animal research benefits us all.