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

A Slaughterhouse Called Science: Can We Replace Animal Testing with Emerging Technologies?

The use of live animals in scientific research has long been a contentious issue, with many considering it to be a cruel and unnecessary practice. In the UK alone, 2.64 million animal lives were sacrificed in officially sanctioned procedures last year, many of which involved distressing or painful conditions. However, the government's recent strategy to phase out animal testing suggests that emerging technologies may soon render animal experimentation obsolete.

While the government has taken steps to reduce animal testing, such as banning cosmetics testing and regulating research, there are still many outdated practices in place. For example, the forced swim test (FST), which involves subjecting rodents to water until they struggle for life, is still allowed despite being deemed cruel by many. The government's decision to ban new FST licenses marks a positive step forward, but other practices like giving mice tumors to research cancer remain acceptable.

This raises questions about where our collective compassion lies. Can we justify the use of animals in scientific research if it means advancing human health and wellbeing? Fortunately, there are emerging alternatives that hold promise. Organ-on-a-chip systems, which mimic complex bodily systems using lab-grown cells, are already being used in research. Machine learning algorithms are also showing great potential in predicting potential toxic effects from medicines.

What's more, the government appears to have a concrete plan for implementing these technologies, with £60m in funding committed and a focus on identifying effective animal-free alternatives. The strategy maps out several key milestones over the next decade, which is heartening given the lack of clear direction in previous initiatives.

The benefits of replacing animal testing are twofold. Not only would it reduce the need for animal lives being sacrificed, but it would also save time and money. Other countries, such as the EU and US, have already committed to reducing animal experimentation, making this a global issue with rewards for innovation and development.

Ultimately, there is a moral imperative to free these animals from unnecessary suffering. While many of us may not think twice about using dogs or horses in research, 95% of lab animals in the UK are rodents, birds, or fish – deserving of the same consideration. The government's strategy represents an opportunity for both scientific and economic progress, and we can only hope that it will be successful in convincing scientists and the public that animal-free alternatives are viable.

I'm low-key relieved to see the UK gov taking steps towards phasing out animal testing . It's crazy to think about 2.64 million animal lives being sacrificed last year - we need to shift our priorities as a society . While I get that some research is necessary for human health, there are still so many outdated practices in place . Organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms are the future, let's see this £60m funding make a real difference . It's time to give lab animals the same compassion we show our furry friends . The gov's strategy is a good start, but it'll be interesting to see if scientists and the public buy into animal-free alternatives .

I think its about time we ditched the live animals in labs, to be honest . Its a no-brainer - they're being poked and prodded for our sake, just so we can get more info on new meds and stuff . I mean, theres plenty of other ways to test things out that dont involve sending innocent creatures to an early grave .

Im loving the idea of these organ-on-a-chip systems tho . They sound like they could be a game changer in reducing animal testing, especially for cancer research .

We should really give credit to countries like the EU and US for leading the way on this already . Its high time we follow suit and make some progress here . The £60m funding is a good start, but were gonna need even more to make these new techs a reality .

I'm all for reducing animal testing - its only right that our furry friends get the same consideration as our furry companions . We should be doing more to support scientists and researchers who are pushing for change

I think this is a game changer! Scientists have been talking about finding alternative methods to animal testing for ages, but finally, there's some real money behind it . Organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms are the way forward, imo . The fact that the gov has £60m in funding committed is huge . And I'm loving the UK's commitment to reducing animal experimentation - it sets an example for the rest of the world .

But, gotta say, some of these practices like giving mice tumors still feel a bit sketchy . Can't we find better ways to test cancer cures or something? Anyway, this is all super exciting and I'm hoping it'll lead to real change in the next decade . More lab animals getting a break from suffering is definitely a win-win for everyone .

You know I've been following this whole animal testing debate for ages . And now they're finally making some real moves to phase out the old ways . It's about time, right? The thought of those poor rodents in water till they freak out just makes me sick . Organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms are sounding promising, can't wait to see how that plays out .

But I gotta say, it's not just about the science – it's also about our values as a society . We're supposed to be all about compassion and empathy, but when it comes to animals in research, we still have a long way to go . 95% of those lab animals are rodents or birds – they deserve some TLC too .

Fingers crossed the UK's strategy will actually make some progress . We need more innovation and less animal suffering . And who knows, maybe one day we'll be talking about this like it's no big deal .

I feel like we're only just starting to scratch the surface here . I'm not sure if £60m is enough to cover all the costs of implementing these new techs tho... we need more transparency on how this funding will be used . Also, what about the potential drawbacks? We don't want to rush into something that might backfire and put human lives at risk . Just because it's an emerging technology doesn't mean it's a silver bullet. I think we need more research and testing (no pun intended) before we can make any real claims about its efficacy .

I'm really glad to see the gov't moving towards phasing out animal testing . It's crazy to think about 2.64 million lives lost every year - that's just not right . I mean, we've got emerging tech like organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms that can predict toxic effects from meds without harming animals .

I also love the fact that they're committing £60m in funding to make this happen . It's a big step forward, but I'm curious to see how it'll play out over the next decade . Will we be able to find effective animal-free alternatives? Only time will tell .

One thing that gets me is why some practices like giving mice tumors are still allowed . Can't they just get rid of those too? I guess it's all about finding the right balance between progress and compassion .

Overall, I'm hopeful that this gov't strategy will lead to a more compassionate and innovative future for science . Fingers crossed!

I think its about time we moved on from using animals in experiments . Its really sad to hear that 2.64 million lives were lost last year alone... The fact that some practices like giving mice tumors are still allowed is just crazy . Organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms are definitely the way forward, but we need more funding and research to make these alternatives a reality .

I do love that the government has a concrete plan in place, it shows they're taking this seriously . The benefits of replacing animal testing are not just about reducing suffering, its also about saving time and money . We should be giving scientists a pat on the back for trying to find alternative solutions, not critiquing them for not doing enough .

I hope this strategy leads to some amazing breakthroughs in healthcare and saves countless lives . Its a good time to be alive if you ask me!

I'm telling you, this is just a PR stunt to cover up some shady stuff. They're trying to push these new techs without doing their due diligence on the risks. I mean, organ-on-a-chip systems sound cool and all, but what's to stop them from using them for more sinister purposes? Like, what if they use them to create super-soldiers or something ? And £60m in funding sounds nice, but where's the transparency on who's getting paid off? It's just a bunch of smoke and mirrors to distract us from the real issues.

omg I'm so down for this!!! they're finally taking steps to make science more humane, and I think it's amazing that they have a concrete plan in place like, £60m in funding is a big deal! and the fact that other countries are already on board with reducing animal testing is just proof that we can do this organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning algorithms sound like total game changers for animal-free research I mean, who needs animals when we have tech to save lives let's hope the government follows through on their strategy and we can make a real difference in reducing animal suffering

I think this is a massive step forward for our society . I mean, who needs to torture animals just to figure out how to make new medicines? It's like we've finally woken up and realized that there's more to life than just getting the job done no matter what . And it's not just about the animals, it's also about saving money and time - think of all the cash we could be pouring into actual research instead of propping up outdated industries .

But, let's get real for a sec... there are still some major players in the scientific community who will resist this change . I mean, they've been doing things "the way it's always been done" for so long, it'll be hard to break the habit . Still, with £60m on the table and a clear plan in place, I think we can make some real progress here .

And, let's not forget about the lab-on-a-chip thingies... those things are like tiny little sci-fi movies come to life . I mean, who needs actual animals when you've got tiny human organs that can mimic everything from diabetes to Alzheimer's? Mind blown, right?

I think its about time we start using those lab-on-a-chip things more often. They're already being used in some research but like, let's make them the norm already . It would be so cool if we could just skip all the animal testing and get straight to the good stuff . And yeah, its not just about saving animal lives but also about being more efficient and cost-effective for us too . I'm all for that!

I'm so glad the gov is finally taking a stand against those animal tests they're literally going to bring back all sorts of tech that's been stuck since the 80s! And it's about time too, I mean who needs to torture mice for cancer research when we got machine learning algorithms and stuff? It's not like we're gonna sit around waiting for someone else to make a breakthrough while those cute little rodents suffer . This is huge! Now if only they can get all the old labs to comply with the new rules, it'll be a whole new ball game

You know what really got me thinking about this? It's not just about replacing animal testing, it's about the fact that our values and priorities need to shift too. We're already living in a world where we can make incredible advancements without killing animals. Think of all the lives saved by vaccines, antibiotics, and medical treatments that were developed using lab-grown cells or computer simulations. It's time for us to think bigger and imagine a future where compassion and innovation go hand-in-hand.

The real question is, what kind of world do we want to create? One where animals are seen as disposable resources for human progress, or one where their lives have value and deserve our protection. It's not just about science; it's about us – our capacity for empathy and kindness.

The beauty of this new approach is that it's not just a UK thing; it's a global movement. We're seeing countries like the EU and US take steps towards animal-free research, and it's inspiring to see scientists, policymakers, and citizens coming together to make a difference.

I'm kinda sure that animal testing is still super necessary ... I mean, think about all those sick medicines that were developed using animals, like penicillin and stuff... Yeah, but on the other hand, I don't wanna be that person who's just blindly saying animal testing is good or bad without considering the new tech that's coming in . Like, organ-on-a-chip systems sound kinda cool, but are they really foolproof? And what about when we're talking about super complex human diseases like cancer? I don't think even machine learning can replace a human biologist just yet ... Ugh, my mind is all over the place about this!

I gotta say, I'm totally on board with this whole animal testing thing getting phased out . I mean, think about it - 2.64 million lives lost last year? That's a lot of creatures we can save and help by switching to more modern methods. And let's be real, the FST is just plain nasty . It's high time we replaced those outdated tests with some newer, kinder approaches.

I'm loving the government's commitment to funding £60m for alternative research methods - it's a great start . And have you seen these organ-on-a-chip systems? Mind-blowing stuff! We're talking lab-grown cells that mimic complex bodily systems... it's like sci-fi come to life .

The benefits of this shift go way beyond just being kinder to animals, though. It's also about saving time and money, which is a big win . And with countries like the EU and US already on board, this is becoming a global movement for good change .

So, let's hope our government's strategy really does make it happen and we can start to phase out animal testing once and for all . I think it's time we treated our furry (and feathered) friends with the respect and compassion they deserve .

I'm so hyped about this ! I think its a no-brainer - animals shouldn't have to suffer for our medical breakthroughs . We've made huge progress with organ-on-a-chip systems and machine learning, but we need more funding & support to make these techs mainstream . Its crazy that some practices are still being allowed despite being deemed cruel . The gov's plan is a good start, but lets keep the pressure on to make this happen ASAP . And yeah, its not just about animal welfare - it's also about saving time & money ️. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see a major shift towards animal-free research in the next decade !

come on guys, if we wanna advance healthcare, what's a few tiny sacrifices of lab rats? the whole "no animals" thing is just gonna lead to more delays and costs in the long run... like, who needs £60m funding for some fancy organ-on-a-chip system when it's not even proven to work yet? let's be real, we're not gonna replace animal testing overnight. besides, at least with animals, we know what we're dealing with - no more guessing around with machine learning algorithms

I mean, come on, 2.64 million animal lives lost just for science? That's like, a whole lotta furry friends . But seriously, I think this is a great step forward! Those lab-on-a-chip systems sound like sci-fi (but kinda cool) technology – imagine having an actual tiny human heart in a petri dish ! And machine learning algorithms? Like, who needs animals when you've got computers that can predict toxic effects? The government's plan seems solid, but I hope they don't forget to have some fun along the way... after all, science should be a blast!

I'm kinda glad they're trying to cut back on animal testing tho its not all good news some lab animals still get used for cancer research which is pretty sad but at least the gov's doing something about it and those organ-on-a-chip systems sound like a game changer