Why are animals used in biomedical research?

• A. To test cosmetics only
• B. To learn about living systems and illnesses and serve as surrogates for human biology
• C. To replace clinical trials entirely
• D. To increase experimental numbers without benefit

Answer: (B)

Animals are used in biomedical research because they provide a living system that shares many biological processes with humans, allowing scientists to study how illnesses develop, how organ systems interact, and how potential therapies behave in a whole organism. This helps reveal mechanisms of disease, identify targets for treatment, and assess safety and dosing before trying things in people. While alternatives exist, animals often offer insights that can’t be captured by artificial models alone, guiding ethical and effective progress toward human health benefits. Testing cosmetics only misses the broader purpose and has become restricted in many places; replacing clinical trials entirely isn’t realistic because human testing is still necessary to confirm safety and effectiveness; and increasing experiments without meaningful benefit runs counter to ethical standards and scientific goals.