Vol-02 No. 1, January 2012. pmd

20 10
REVIEW ARTICLE
Animal Research in Medical Science: Pros and Cons
Nurunnabi ASM
1
, Afroz RD
2
, Alam SN
3
Abstract:
Animal research or animal testing is done worldwide, where vertebrate animals, from zebrafish to
non-human primates, millions in number are used annually. The research is conducted inside
universities, medical schools/colleges, pharmaceutical companies, farms, defense establishments
and commercial facilities that provide animal-testing services to industry. It includes basic research
such as genetics, developmental biology, behavioural studies, as well as applied research such as
biomedical research, xenotransplantation, drug testing and toxicology tests, cosmetics testing. Animals
are also used for education, breeding and defense research. The practice is regulated to various
degrees in different countries. Scientists and science authorities still have their arguments to justify
animal testing. However, dialogues and protests are also evident against it. Awareness campaign in
recent years could make scientists and governments state that animal testing should cause as little
suffering to animals as possible, and that animal tests should only be performed where necessary. We