G- https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/alternatives-animal-testing

Question 1

G1- alternatives

Answer 1

• Due to innovations in science, animal tests are being replaced in areas such as toxicity testing, neuroscience and drug development

Question 2

G2- cell cultures

Answer 2

• ‘organs-on-chips’ can be used instead of animals to study biological and disease processes, as well as drug metabolism. Devices have already been produced that accurately mimic the lung, heart, kidney and gut.
• Cell cultures have been central to key developments in areas such as cancers, sepsis, kidney disease and AIDS, and are routinely used in chemical safety testing, vaccine production and drug development.

Question 3

G3- human tissues

Answer 3

• Human tissue can be donated from surgery. Skin and eye models made from reconstituted human skin and other tissues have been developed and are used to replace the cruel rabbit irritation tests.
• Post-mortem brain tissue has provided important leads to understanding brain regeneration and the effects of Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Question 4

G4- computer models

Answer 4

• Computer models of the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, digestive and musculoskeletal systems already exist.
• They can be used to conduct virtual experiments based on existing information and mathematical data.

Question 5

G5- Volunteer studies

Answer 5

• Brain imaging machines that can ‘see’ inside the brain can be used to monitor the progression and treatment of brain disease. They can help researchers understand the causes by comparing with healthy volunteers.
• microdosing can also be used in volunteers to measure how very small doses of potential new drugs behave in the human body. These microdoses are radio-labelled, injected into human volunteers and measured (usually in blood samples) using a very sensitive measuring device called an accelerator mass spectrometer.
• Less high-tech studies for nutrition, drug addiction and pain can also be carried out on consenting humans in the interest of advancing medical science.

Question 6

G6- stats for accuracy

Answer 6

• Crude skin allergy tests in guinea pigs only predict human reactions 72% of the time. Cell-based alternative methods: 90% of the time.
• The Draize skin irritation test in rabbits can only predict human skin reactions 60% of the time. Reconstituted human skin: 86% accurate.
• The standard test on pregnant rats to find out if chemicals or drugs may harm the developing baby can only detect 60% of dangerous substances. Cell-based alternative (EST):100% accuracy