Why Animals Continue to be Used in Microbiology
Animal rights activists have been pushing for the elimination of animal testing in different types of laboratory settings, including those engaged in studies through the science of microbiology. Several scientists are echoing the call to end animal testing. Their reasoning, in general, is that there are still too many incongruities involved and that relying on results gleaned from animal testing is not, in reality, responsible because testing in a manner that involves cross-species will never be able to fully ascertain the full effects of those materials being tested. However, animals are still needed to study the any different aspects of microbiology to benefit people.
Activists Say there are Different Technologies Microbiologists Could Use
It's true that there are many different methods that laboratories can use to ascertain the toxicity of different chemicals and compounds. One reason that non-animal testing seems to be more beneficial is that there is a much shorter wait time to determine the toxicity level than the lengthier waiting times now experienced. The problem is that there is no technology that has been developed yet that will solve this problem.
Existing Technologies are Only Geared for Some Variations of Microbiology
The need to care for the animals, or risk facing animal rights activists' anger, is also a factor. Obtaining the animals is not always easily done, as many, beyond the smaller ones, such as rabbits, mice, and rats, do not breed well in captivity. Microbiology is an area of science where tradition seems to be losing ground as new scientists are entering the many fields of microbiology, and bringing their beliefs with them. This may lead to a different approach to the study of microbiology in the near future, but again, this technology does not exist yet.
Technology is Continually Advancing, and New Tools are Yet to be Developed
Until the microbiology has developed enough non-animal testing techniques, animals will still need to be used in order to complete different assays and other tests. This is particularly true when it comes to immunology, a sub-science of microbiology. Without host animals, it is currently impossible to tell how cells will react to different viruses, and how that reaction will be changed with the introduction of different antibiotics or vaccinations. This is why science still relies on animals, and not still-to-be-developed technology.
