The Guardian view on animal testing: we can stop sacrificing millions of lives for our own health | Editorial

The Slaughterhouse of Science: Can Emerging Technologies Replace Animal Testing?

Science is a harsh reality that few acknowledge - the reliance on animal life to advance our understanding of medicine and regulation is staggering. In 2024, over 2.6 million officially sanctioned scientific procedures involving live animals took place in the UK, with many being distressing or painful, and many fatal. The government's recent strategy to phase out animal testing offers a glimmer of hope that emerging technologies can largely replace this practice.

While progress has been made, such as the ban on cosmetics testing on animals and regulations to reduce their use in research, cruel experiments like the forced swim test (FST) still persist. This is not only inhumane but also unnecessary, with some scientists continuing to justify practices that many would deem barbaric.

The key to success lies in convincing scientists and the public that alternative methods can provide similar results without the need for animal testing. Fortunately, alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning are already being used and show promise. These technologies won't be perfect, but they offer a more compassionate approach.

What's heartening is the government's plan to apply these emerging technologies, with £60m committed directly to funding and identifying effective alternatives. The strategy maps out specific goals over the next decade, rather than relying on vague promises of technology as a solution.

This shift has significant potential for both scientific and economic progress. Animal testing is not only cruel but also expensive and time-consuming. By reducing animal experimentation, we can reap rewards in developing new technologies that can be applied worldwide.

There's also a moral imperative to free these animals from unnecessary suffering. The fact that 95% of lab animals in the UK are rodents, birds, or fish highlights their lack of consideration in scientific research. It's time for us to acknowledge their value and strive towards a more compassionate approach to science.

I'm so glad they're making efforts to reduce animal testing . I mean, think about it, we can already create fake skin on chips that can help with skin cancer research! It's crazy how far technology has come in just a few years . But seriously, it's heartbreaking to know those 2.6 million animals went through distressing procedures . We need to keep pushing for alternatives like organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning, and I'm excited to see the £60m funding go towards making this happen . It's not just about science progress, it's also about being kind to those little creatures .

omg, i'm so down for this ! finally, our gov is thinkin about phasin out animal testing! it's like, totally inhumane and we can already see some awesome techs like organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning takin' over . £60m is a pretty decent investment if u ask me . i mean, think about all the poor animals that dont need 2 suffer . and did u know that 95% of lab animals r rodents, birds, or fish? like, wut even? . anyhooz, i'm all for makin it a more compassionate world for animals and humans alike . can't wait 2 c what the future holds!

I mean, think about it - we're already living in a world where robots can perform surgeries and drones are helping with conservation efforts... why not use that tech to save the lives of animals too? The gov's plan is a good start, but we need more innovation & funding for these new methods. Organ-on-a-chip systems sound pretty cool too! I just wish they wouldn't delay it - every second counts for those little critters [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/14/uk-to-phase-out-animal-testing-60m-set-for-research]

I'm not convinced this is gonna be a smooth transition to no animal testing yet. All these new techs sound cool, but we need to see some real results and safety guarantees before I fully buy in . And what about the big pharma companies who'll probably just find ways to keep using animals even if they're not necessary? We can't just rely on governments to make this happen...we need more transparency and public pressure

Animal testing is still super common in the world of science - like, over 2.6 million procedures involving live animals happen every year in the UK alone! That's just crazy talk. But I guess it's not all bad news? The government has decided to phase out animal testing and there are some awesome emerging techs that can replace it, like organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning .

These new techs are showing some serious promise and could potentially save a ton of animals from, you know, getting killed or stuff. The key is convincing scientists and the public that they're good enough to use instead of animal testing. And I think it's awesome that the government has £60m to fund this whole thing - it's like, a total game-changer .

It's also super important to remember that animal testing isn't just about science, it's also about morals . Like, those 95% of lab animals are rodents and birds and fish... they're not even considered to be 'valuable' in scientific research? It's time for us to change that mindset and try to find more compassionate ways to do our science .

I just hope these new techs can live up to the hype . We need to see some serious progress on this one.

Ugh, I mean... can we just get rid of animal testing already?! Like, it's super outdated and unnecessary. All these new techs are promising, but we're still stuck with old-school methods that involve actual pain & distress for animals. It's time to give those animals a break! But at the same time, I don't wanna see us relying too much on AI & machine learning... what if they don't work out?! We can't just throw all our hopes on tech to solve this problem, we need more research & testing to ensure it's safe & effective. And let's be real, where's the money in all this? Can't we just find a better way to fund these alternative methods?

I think we're at a tipping point here. All these emerging techs like organ-on-a-chip systems & machine learning are finally getting the funding they deserve . It's about time we prioritize compassion over convenience when it comes to animal testing . We can't keep justifying practices that are both cruel and outdated. The £60m funding is a great start, but let's not stop there...

I'm totally on board with this ! The fact that we're still using animal testing in the lab is just mind-boggling. I mean, what's next? We're gonna start using humans as test subjects too? No thanks! It's time for us to get creative and find new ways to test our theories. I love how the government is throwing £60m at this problem - it's a great starting point!

The organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning tech are already showing some serious promise, and if we can scale that up, I reckon we'll be golden . Plus, think of all the potential economic benefits - we're talking new industries and jobs emerging from this whole thing.

But what really gets me is the moral angle . We're basically using animals as lab rats without even a second thought about their feelings or wellbeing. It's time for us to take responsibility for that. By moving away from animal testing, we can actually make science more humane and compassionate.

The UK's got a great track record of leading the charge on this stuff - banning cosmetics testing, regulations to reduce animal use in research... they're making some real waves ! And if we can get the rest of the world on board, I reckon it'll be a game-changer .

i think its kinda harsh to condemn scientists who use animal testing without giving them a chance to try out these new emerging techs they might not know about the alternatives yet, and forcing them to switch overnight would be unfair...what if these new methods dont work as well as expected? we should give 'em some time to figure it out before we start judging

I think its about time we take a closer look at animal testing in labs... Those poor creatures sufferin' for the sake of human progress is just wrong, you know? And dont even get me started on those fancy organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learnin' - they're not gonna replace our feelings entirely, but its a start! £60m sounds like a pretty penny to me, hope it makes a difference...