Why is animal testing not accurate?

Answer 1

Animals testing for the benefit of humans is unreliable because animals do not have the exact same anatomy and body chemistry as humans. Therefore, any results derived from animal testing may not apply to humans.

Answer 2

The main discrepancy in data that arises is due to the fact that humans are not other species of animals. A lab rat is a lab rat, and a human is a human. Despite other similarities, they are not the same.

For example, a combination of fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine used to be distributed as a dieting product to suppress appetite. It was extensively tested on animas and thought to be safe. However, it caused valve abnormalities in humans. Opren was another drug tested in monkeys, but killed 61 humans. Asbestos legislation was held up for years because it didn't cause cancer in animals.

Other drugs have been held back because they were dangerous in animals, even though they turned out to be safe in people. Valium, for instance, was dangerous to animals, but is obviously used now to treat several problems in people.

The fact of the matter is that animals have very different physiologies from humans, and that tends to lead to inccuracies in medical testing. There are many alternatives with modern technology such as computer simulations or cell cultures.

Here is more information:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2001/may/24/highereducation.uk

http://www.pcrm.org/resch/charities/factsheets/experiments_fail.pdf