Why primates should be used in research?

Monkeys are used in animal research only if a particular phenomenon cannot be studied on any other species of animal, such as mice, fish or fruit flies. Because they are biologically so similar to humans, the potential for applying research results to humans is very high.

Should primates be used in medical research?

“Although rare, the use of primates in medical research and testing is invaluable, as an essential aspect of work which provides the best hope for breakthroughs in important areas such as neurodegenerative disorders and for aspects of immune and reproductive functions.”

Why do we study nonhuman primates?

Non-human primates alert us to the many, often uncanny similarities between humans and other animals, and the behaviors that define human distinctiveness. Studies of monkeys and apes in their natural settings in particular help us to model the ecological and social circumstances under which novel human behaviors arose.

Why are chimpanzees used for animal testing?

Chimpanzees have been used in biomedical research to gain an understanding of various diseases that result in substantial morbidity and mortality. The value of chimpanzees in studies designed to make it possible to prevent or treat diseases is due in large part to their genetic similarity to humans.

Why are macaques used in research?

Macaques are non-human primates. The MRC funds research in universities using macaques because many of their body systems — such as their immune and nervous systems — are similar to humans, making them good research ‘models’ in areas such as vaccines and neurodegenerative disease.

What happens to primates after research?

Once all data have been collected and the study is completed, the PI is left with a decision of what to do with the monkey. They can continue on to another study in our lab, be sold to another lab, or be euthanized for tissue histology.

Are primates self aware?

According to anthropologists, many animals have a kind of consciousness, but only humans and the great apes are self-conscious. Apparently, the big and complex brains of humans and apes, which may have evolved for other tasks, blossomed with an added sense of self.

What important things can we learn from non-human primates in anthropology?

Biological anthropologists study human biology and evolution and work in very diverse fields. One field, primatology, studies nonhuman primates (including lemurs, monkeys, and apes) to learn about their behavior and evolution, to place human evolution in context, and to aid conservation efforts.

Why are macaques used in biomedical research?

Macaque monkeys are used because the areas of the brain thought to be important in this visual recognition process are similar in macaques and humans. Researchers record the activity of individual brain cells, to discover how the brain recognises and remembers objects.

What are the important concerns about using chimpanzees in research?

In 2011, a landmark report by the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) that examined the scientific validity of experiments on chimpanzees concluded that “most current biomedical research use of chimpanzees is not necessary.” A 2013 NIH report confirmed that …

Do they still use chimps for testing?

Chimpanzees tend to be used repeatedly over decades, rather than used and killed as with most laboratory animals. Some individual chimpanzees currently in U.S. laboratories have been used in experiments for over 40 years.

Is it ethical to experiment on monkeys?

Approximately 60,000 monkeys are used for experiments for all purposes each year in the United States, Europe and Australia. The ethical choice is often between using a few hundred monkeys or condemning thousands or more humans to suffer or die from each one of these diseases year after year.

What are the advantages of nonhuman primates as a model?

By comparison with human subjects, nonhuman primates, like other animal models, have several advantages for these typ … The genetic similarity between humans and nonhuman primates makes nonhuman primates uniquely suited as models for genetic research on complex physiological and behavioral phenotypes.

What are the pros and cons of animal testing?

Top Pro & Con Arguments. Animal testing is cruel and inhumane. According to Humane Society International, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, prolonged periods of physical restraint, the infliction of burns and other wounds to study the healing process,…

Are animal tests more expensive than in vitro testing?

Humane Society International found that animal tests were more expensive than in vitro (testing performed outside of living organisms) in every scenario studied. [ 61] Con 4 Animals are very different from human beings and therefore make poor test subjects.

Which products are tested on animals to make them safe?

Manufacturers of products such as hand sanitizer and insect repellent, which can protect people from Zika, malaria, and West Nile Virus, test on animals to meet legal requirements for putting these products on the market. [ 44] Animal testing is cruel and inhumane.