We cannot put a price tag on human life. Jackson Laboratories is one of many companies that profits from animal cloning and testing which may lead to discoveries in medicine that could cure diseases. As it is, through animal testing scientists have discovered cures for rabies, polio and mumps, to name a few. Those discoveries are priceless. If one of my family members were to contract an incurable disease I would want to know that everything possible was being done to ensure their recovery.
If it was possible to find a cure for cancer or AIDS by testing on animals, I do not have any problem with that. The question becomes whether or not it is reasonable that some University research studies would cost in the neighborhood of $75000. What if one of those studies brought about some information that changed the way we practice medicine? What if one of those studies discovered some information that was a vital component in a study that led to the curing of a disease?
We would no longer question the cost of these studies. With the different strains of viruses and diseases that run rampant in our world, we can never stop researching and we can never stop testing. In fact, in order for the field of medicine to continue to make advances, we must support animal testing. Alas, all of these studies cost money. Perhaps there should be some regulation about which studies deserve money. It is important that these costly studies have the potential to be life changing.
A study to change genes to manipulate the hair color of an animal would be a colossal waste of money since no one’s life has ever depended on the color of his hair. However, a study that introduces a drug that is found to shrink cancer cells in rats would be worth the time and money. For every successful study, there are hundreds of studies that fail. Because there is no way to predict which study will lead to life saving information, Universities and Research facilities have to spend money on all different kinds of studies as there is no way to put a price tag on all of the lives that could potentially be saved.