[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Why do we need to test on animals to find a cure for autism?

Because we cannot test on humans..next best thing.

The physiology isn't the same, the brain isn't the same. We don't really know how the human brain works, but we're willing to put animals with entirely different biological makeup through torturous tests?

I agree that the brain is not exactly the same and we don't quite know how our brains work.

If scientists were forced to test in a different way, they would.

The only other way is to test on humans, which would never happen. Yeah its fine for testing for flu cures and such (I was going to do that flucamp thing at one stage, partly for the cash and partly to actually help science develop), but it would never be allowed to happen for anything more serious. And we will never advance medically without a way to test potential cures. its a shame that dead people cannot be used for stuff like this really, I know cadavers are used in some stuff, but for brain issues surely they would have to be alive? IDK, I am not a scientist.

And who checks the animals' welfare? Who checks how many animals are being used?

No idea, but I would like to see more checks being made on living conditions of animals both used for testing and used for food.

How can people love their pets but be completely unfeeling towards animals in experiments?

Surely this goes for eating meat too really. As awful as it sounds, a pet is an animal you actually know and like (generally). Animals for meat/testing are just random animals that its fairly easy to just put out of your mind

Couldn't agree with your final paragraph more.

Yup. Its depressing really thinking about it properly.