Animal Testing Perspective

Animals and humans are both mammals, which means biologically they share the same basic types of organs – heart, lungs, liver, kidneys etc, and that work in the same way, controlled via the bloodstream and nervous system. There are minor differences too, however these can give scientists clues about diseases and how they might be treated.

Monkeys have been used to advance deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease; research with mice is helping develop new treatments for leukaemia and lymphoma; rabbits and cattle helped with cervical cancer vaccines, and goats in developing blood clotting agents from milk.

Around a third of medicines used by vets are also used in the treatment of humans.