http://www.buav.org/article/832
ps
If the link is not allowed by all means delete ..

Ah, hang on, I'd just like to clarify that I am an academic research scientist, I do not work for a drugs company testing drugs, we do molecular and cellular level research into genes, signalling pathways, proteinrotein interaction etc etc.....

Therefore I cannot comment on drugs companies and their research labs, just how it works in Universities.

Mostly we have mice who are transgenic, they live in cages just like a pet mouse, with mandatory "cage furniture," feeding routines etc etc. They don't know they are carrying a human gene

When I get a chance, I shall respond with a longer post.

Mmmmm well family members of mine are research scientists there, weird though I wouldnt say they were evil in any way.

It's very difficult for me this one. I hate all animal testing, yet I take medicines that have been tested on animals. I have leather shoes and eat meat too.
I absolutely believe all cosmetic and non medical testing is a disgrace. However, if a drug was to save Graham's life, and it ad been tested on animals, I would want him to have it.
That said....if it was me who was in a lab cage being experimented on, I would be extremely frightened and not very happy.
I admit I am a hypocrite....I detest animal testing yet take meds that have been tested on animals. I don't know what the answer is

Very interesting, thanks everyone who has participated so far. I will have a look at all the links when I get a chance.

I too sit on the fence on this one. Animal testing for new drugs that could save lives I can probably deal with (after all, I do take medicines as do my dogs etc when needed). Unnecessary testing for cosmetics or other trivial human fancies I find pretty abhorrent.

I wish there were another way. I know the Plague Dogs is quite an old book (1974) and, as such, I truly hope that none of the experiments described in the book are still being done on animals. In the Preface, Richard Adams does say "There is no such place in the Lake District as Animal Research (Scientific and Experimental). In reality, no single testing or experimental station would cover so wide a range of work as Animal Research. However, ever "experiment" described is one which has actually been carried out on animals somewhere".

Has anyone else read The Plague Dogs? If not, you really should. It is a bit of a dark and, at times, depressing read, but it is also extremely well written and make compulsive reading.

Yep beagles are still being tested on

The facts are that many people would not be alive today had it not been for animal testing (Diabetes is one case in point).

The facts are that very few things are achieved without cost.

The facts are that whilst I would always ask "is it possible to achieve the same effect without it" I would happily get ANY treatment no matter what the cost (I think) if my daughter was terminally ill.

If the choice is for example battery v free range eggs, it is no contest (as long as I have the money).

There are all sorts of competing factors to be taken into consideration if choices have to be made.

Totally agree.
If it wasn't for medical animal testing, I wouldn't be here.

When I had my transplant in January, I know one fo the drugs I had contained mouse DNA, , and i'm sure a lot of the other drugs I've had, and trials I've been on have been tested on animals.

Have you had an increase in the love of cheese??

MURF! you're terrible