Benefits of Using Animals in Toxicology Research
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Benefits of Using Animals in Toxicology Research
What is necessary for basic research and safety testing? Scientists need to study natural situations to understand life processes and to investigate how introducing a particular substance can change living systems. It is often helpful to break a process into steps and then investigate how introduction of the substance affects each step. This first stage in toxicity assessment takes place in vitro.
The investigator can pinpoint the various changes that could occur when a compound encounters a living cell and then make safety recommendations. Only a few substances successfully pass these initial trials. Those substances must then be tested further. Humans and other living things—plants, animals, and even molds and bacteria—are complex systems. The processes in any organism are far more complicated than just the sum of the individual parts. It is difficult to replicate at the lab bench the complex interactions. When safety is not assured, ethical research procedures restrict testing on humans. Additional experiments must be performed using other animals first, with the vast majority of animals now used being rats and mice.
Why is there a need to use animals? All organisms are composed of chemicals, and chemical reactions power all life processes. When a substance is introduced into an animal, it can
interact in many places throughout the whole body, and effects upon one process can cause unexpected consequences in others (see diagram). Using animals in experiments is critical because such complexity cannot be duplicated in cell culture or in nonliving systems. For example, toxicity can be influenced by the speed with which the substance enters the system, how the liver and other organs change it and how it is taken up by and interacts with various body tissues.
Some of the response is influenced by the tissue characteristics (e.g., liver is different than kidney tissue). Because “the dose makes the poison” at the level of the individual organ, we need to be able to analyze not only how a chemical act, but the relationship between the dose given to the animal and the dose delivered to the different organs and tissues in the body. Studies in whole animals are required to ensure the proper use of beneficial chemicals such as medicines, because the tissue or organ receiving the beneficial effect might be harmed if exposures are greater than needed. In many cases, laboratory tools simply cannot duplicate these complicated phenomena. Ultimately, animal testing is the best method to detect effects such as cancer and birth defects.
Given the above, what is the responsibility of the toxicologist? Scientists use whole living systems—animal models—in experiments to understand the relation- ships between exposure and effect, and to use them appropriately, responsibly and humanely. Data from these studies provide the essential foundation to distinguish and recommend which level of exposure is safe and which is harmful to people, animals and the environment.
What are the specific benefits of using animals in toxicology research? Safe Products and Safe Medicines—Toxicology
studies are crucial to the discovery and development of safe products such as new drugs, cleaning products, plastic food containers, flame- retardant infant clothing and food additives, to name a few. Toxicologists perform research in whole animals to ensure the short-term and long-term safety of such products before they are brought to market. If research on a new substance predicts significant risks to human or animal
❛ In the absence of human data, research with experimental animals is the most reliable means of detecting important toxic properties of chemical substances and for estimating risks to human and environmental health. ❜ SOT Animals in Research Public Policy Statement
Chemical A
Changed to Chemical B
Benefits of Using Animals in Toxicology Research
RUBRIC
Excellent Quality
95-100%
Introduction 45-41 points
The background and significance of the problem and a clear statement of the research purpose is provided. The search history is mentioned.
Literature Support
91-84 points
The background and significance of the problem and a clear statement of the research purpose is provided. The search history is mentioned.
Methodology
58-53 points
Content is well-organized with headings for each slide and bulleted lists to group related material as needed. Use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance readability and presentation content is excellent. Length requirements of 10 slides/pages or less is met.
Average Score
50-85%
40-38 points
More depth/detail for the background and significance is needed, or the research detail is not clear. No search history information is provided.
83-76 points
Review of relevant theoretical literature is evident, but there is little integration of studies into concepts related to problem. Review is partially focused and organized. Supporting and opposing research are included. Summary of information presented is included. Conclusion may not contain a biblical integration.
52-49 points
Content is somewhat organized, but no structure is apparent. The use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. is occasionally detracting to the presentation content. Length requirements may not be met.
Poor Quality
0-45%
37-1 points
The background and/or significance are missing. No search history information is provided.
75-1 points
Review of relevant theoretical literature is evident, but there is no integration of studies into concepts related to problem. Review is partially focused and organized. Supporting and opposing research are not included in the summary of information presented. Conclusion does not contain a biblical integration.
48-1 points
There is no clear or logical organizational structure. No logical sequence is apparent. The use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. is often detracting to the presentation content. Length requirements may not be met
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