Animal experimentation was deemed a necessary evil for the advancement of medicine and science for the future of the human race. Granted the use of animals in research established the foundation for modern medical science. Consequently, animal experimentation has become an outdated because of the invention of MRI's, CAT scans and X-rays. Even though outdated, animal experimentation is still being conducting today, which ponders the question of how much value an animal's life is worth? The use of animal experimentation in science labs must stop because of the moral and biological issues towards the animal's rights. .
The idea to dissect animals came from Galen, a first century scientist, who wanted to study the anatomy of the human body (Greek). During this time people lived religious lives where God and His essence were undoubtedly the ruler of the kingdom. These religions prohibited the dissection of the human body because the body was considered sacred even after death, thus forcing Galen to examine and experiment on animals (Greek). Galen based his theory of human anatomy on the experimentation of apes and pigs, which was the guideline for many centuries until discredited in the Renaissance era. The Renaissance era developed many great advances in medical science because Italian scientists and artists began performing autopsies on dead humans (Greek). In the 19th century the invention of the stethoscope, microscope, and a blood pressure manometer assisted the advancement on medical science without the use of animal experimentation (Greek). In the 20th century the invention of ether gas became the foundation of anesthesia and surgeons. The surgeons did not practice on animals to operate on humans but practiced on dead humans donated to science to become efficient in a real life scenario (Greek). Yet through all the medical advancements since Galen, scientists consistently experiment with animals when they do not need too.
