Purpose: Animal testing is primarily used to assess the safety and efficacy of drugs, cosmetics, and other products intended for human use.
Animal Welfare: Measures are taken to minimize animal suffering, including guidelines for housing, care, and humane treatment during experiments.
Regulation: Research involving animals is heavily regulated by governmental agencies in many countries to ensure ethical treatment and scientific rigor.
Alternatives: Efforts are ongoing to develop and promote alternative testing methods such as cell cultures, computer modeling, and human tissue samples to reduce reliance on animals.
Species Used: Commonly used species include mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and non-human primates, chosen based on scientific relevance to the research question.
Medical Advancements: Animal research has contributed to major medical advancements such as vaccines, antibiotics, and treatments for diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS.