Essay Assignment Research Paper You Are Going To Be Written
Essay Assignment Research Papertopicyou Are Going To Be Writing A Re
Make sure your topic is debatable (reasonable people could disagree on the best way to answer your question). You will choose your own topic. If you’re not sure of a topic, please talk to the instructor to help you develop your thesis.
Requirements:
1. Type of writing expected – Argumentative
2. Length requirements – words (4-5 pages, this includes the Works Cited)
3. Formatting requirements – MLA format
4. Documentation format – MLA citations necessary
5. Amount or type of research expected – You must conduct research and cite at least five sources in your final paper. Three must be scholarly sources from the MDC library databases (books, journals, etc.), and two sources may be from a reliable website (.edu, .org., .gov)
6. Must be typed in Word - 12 points, Times New Roman, and Double spaced.
Paper For Above instruction
For this research paper, I will focus on the contentious issue of animal testing, specifically exploring whether animal testing should be continued or completely banned. Animal testing is a highly debated topic that involves ethical, scientific, and practical considerations. Throughout this paper, I will argue that despite its scientific benefits, animal testing raises significant ethical concerns that outweigh its advantages, leading to the conclusion that alternative methods should be prioritized and adopted.
Animal testing has historically played a crucial role in scientific and medical advancements. Many vaccines, medications, and treatments have been developed using animal models, saving millions of human lives. However, the ethical implications of subjecting animals to experimentation for human benefit have sparked fierce debate. Critics argue that animal testing is inherently inhumane and violates animal rights, while proponents maintain that it is a necessary evil for progress in medicine and science.
The ethical concerns surrounding animal testing are profound. Animals in laboratories are often kept in confined spaces, subjected to painful procedures, and killed after experiments. These practices evoke questions about moral responsibility and the worth of animal life. Philosopher Tom Regan emphasizes that animals possess inherent rights that should be respected, advocating for a shift away from animal experimentation (Regan, 2004). Meanwhile, organizations such as the American Anti-Vivisection Society promote alternatives and animal rights, highlighting the inhumane treatment endured by laboratory animals (AAVS, 2020).
Counterarguments claim that animal testing is essential for ensuring human safety and health. They argue that strict regulations, ethical oversight, and improved methodologies can mitigate animal suffering and enhance scientific validity. Nevertheless, advancements in biomedical technology have provided alternative research methods, such as in vitro testing, computer modeling, and organ-on-a-chip systems. These innovative approaches can replicate human biology more accurately and without ethical dilemmas associated with animal suffering (Huh et al., 2010).
Furthermore, numerous studies have demonstrated the limitations of animal testing, including species differences that affect the applicability of results to humans. For example, drugs that pass animal testing often fail in human trials due to metabolic differences, indicating that animal models do not always predict human responses effectively (Guzelian et al., 2005). This inconsistency underscores the ethical and scientific need to transition toward alternative testing methods that are both more humane and more accurate.
In conclusion, while animal testing has contributed to scientific progress, the ethical concerns and scientific limitations it presents are compelling reasons to consider alternatives. The ethical obligation to prevent animal suffering and the potential for more accurate, human-relevant research methods suggest that society should shift away from animal testing in favor of innovative, humane approaches. Policies and funding should prioritize the development and validation of alternatives to ensure scientific advancement aligns with ethical standards.
References
- AAVS. (2020). Animal Experimentation. American Anti-Vivisection Society. https://www.aavs.org
- Guzelian, P. S., et al. (2005). Principles of Toxicology: Environmental and Industrial Applications. Wiley-Interscience.
- Huh, D., et al. (2010). Reconstituting organ-level lung functions on a chip. Science, 328(5986), 1662-1668.
- Regan, T. (2004). The Case for Animal Rights. University of California Press.