Leander James

Anth 1020
Use of Non-Human Primates in Biomedical Research

Before human had arrived there were primate that roamed the earth along with a wide variety of
animals. We human have since evolved from primates over the pasted thousands years with great
intelligent know as Homo sapiens. With big brains, our mines attended to find ways to prevent and cures
internal illnesses that mankind has endured since we have evolved. Fast forward to the 21st century where
technology had become a big part of human life and with the help of researcher we have found that
primates have a similar genetic and physiological make up as human. The principles of the use of nonhuman primates in biomedical research are similar with biological (or physical) anthropology because of
human biology. Biomedical research is involved with investigating disease, as well as observation,
experimentation, and analyzing a test subject. Where biological anthropology involved the study of
human diversity, environmental strain, and genetic patterns.
With that in mind, biomedical research have been using primates in favorable in there researchs
due to the fact that scientists are able to use them because of the similarity in human anatomy and make
up. But, in the eye of animals activist they see that biomedical testing on primates is unkindly and
endangers the well-being of primates. With this topic of biomedical testing on primates I feel as if Im
caught in the middle because a part of me is for it and the other part of is against it. The reason I am for
biomedical testing is the endless possible of treatment they can discover to prevent virus and disease.
Where that other half of me that is against biomedical testing is because these poor primates dont have a
voice to describe the treatments they are enduring just for the benefits of us humans.
With evolution of mankind over the period of a thousands of years our intelligent have grown
scientist and researcher are able to fine cures for diseases that were impossible a 100 years ago. Some of
the big stakeholder in the biomedical research on primates would be government, occupational medical
professionals, and researcher/institution. In the research from California Biomedical Research

Association (Association), Fact Sheet its states that research with nonhuman primates play an important
role in the advancement of human and animal health. The statistics report in the California Biomedical
Research Association states that there are currently, less than one percent of all animals needed for
medical discovery in the U.S are nonhuman primates and the majority of the research are done on
rodents. Many of the data from this article followed the guide line from laws governing primates use in
research. That makes United States researcher follow a strict set of rule for institution that conducting
research on primates. Also in this article it stats the benefits that research on primate has provided us
from development of polio vaccines, treatment of leprosy, and many more treatments in the process of
being worked on such as brain biology, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson diseases. Some of the fallacy
in biomedical researcher are false cause that some people think that many of these treatment happen
overnight. But, in reality it could take years to get answer and in that time frame many of these primates
homes are in cages and the welfare of these animals are taken seriously in the U.S.
What kind of environment are these nonhuman primates really in? Is the well fare taken seriously
with many of these establish intuition where research is being conducted is what concerns animal activist
who believe they are the voice of the gods creatures. There are several stakeholder that are pro animals
that fight the battles which included many local resident, community, peta, and humane society. In an
article from ProCon.org on animal testing its stats the statistic of many hot topic that are pro and con of
biomedical research (ProCon.Org). Some of the Cons are
animal testing is cruel and inhumane, 95% of animals used in
experiments are protected by the animal welfare act, and
animals can suffer like human do. Some of these topic
statistics have been research from many organization from
government, laws, and institution. Which make these reliable
sources because they have been made public and many of the
animal activist have done their own investigation into research

companies with photo camera and video cameras capturing indescribable treatment. Making these images
viral with the help of social media so the caption could speak for its self. Some of the fallacy in burden of
proof of these caption are the every research intuition runs there establishment in this order when in
actually many arent anywhere as hostel as some portray to be.
After doing my own research on both viewpoint I found that the argument that has the concerning
of the well-being of primates was more persuasive. The reason for my decision is because on the video
and images I had come across. Seeing these innocent primate endure pain just for the treatment of finding
new cures was hurtful to view. Know that these small creature go through some difficult procedure for
research made me up set. As I was watching the video I kept thinking to myself if only they could talk
and tell us the pain there going through. This should be educated to the general public because some of
the treat is inhumane in biomedical research of nonhuman primates and that there should be a stop to this
and that we could find an alternative solution to research for our own benefit. Some of the connection I
gathered in this field is how closely similar primates are too human. If researcher wanted to eventually in
the future they would be directing the test subject to human if they chooses to. In my own opinion I feel
as if the research should not use primates as test subject due to the fact that they are handling the live of
these animals where their lives are at stake.
Over all I would have to say that my original opinion where I was stuck in the middle because I
could see the pro and con of biomedical research have shifted to the con. After viewing the video that I
came across on line completely changed my mind about the pro in bio medical researches. In the end we
are all species of sapiens and I dont think we should take advantage of the other kinds of sapiens just
because we have a much larger brain.

Works Cited
Association, California Biomedical Research. California Biomedical Research Association: Fact Sheet/
Primate in Biomedical Research. Research. California: CBRA, 2013. WEB.
ProCon.Org. "Aninal Testing." Artical. 2014. WEB.