Why in the News?
There is growing ethical and scientific concern over the continued use of animal testing in laboratories, as evidence mounts that such methods are often ineffective in predicting human responses. The legal and moral shift in India specifically, an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to promote the use of bioartificial models over live animals in experimentation.
What about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960?The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is an Indian law enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals and to promote their well-being. Key features:
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Why is an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 legally and morally necessary in India?
- Outdated Penalties and Definitions: The current Act imposes minimal fines (as low as ₹50), which fail to act as deterrents against cruelty. An amendment is needed to introduce stricter punishments and update definitions to match modern ethical standards.
- Rising Incidents of Animal Abuse: With growing reports of gruesome cruelty (e.g., dog killings, abuse in labs), there is a need for laws that reflect the moral conscience of today’s society and recognize animal sentience.
- Global Commitments and Standards: India aspires to be a leader in global bioethics and sustainability. Amending the Act would align national laws with international treaties like the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, enhancing India’s moral and legal credibility.
How can regenerative medicine and tissue engineering reduce animal testing?
- Development of Human-like Organ Models: Scientists can grow 3D human tissues (like liver, heart, or skin) in the lab, which can be used to test drug toxicity and effectiveness. Eg: The “liver-on-a-chip” developed by Emulate Inc. mimics human liver functions and replaces animal use in drug screening.
- Personalized Disease Models: Patient-derived stem cells can be used to create tissue models that reflect individual genetic profiles, allowing more accurate predictions of drug reactions without animals. Eg: In cystic fibrosis research, mini lungs (organoids) grown from patient cells are used to test responses to various treatments.
- Accelerated Drug Development and Safety Testing: Tissue-engineered models provide faster and more ethical platforms for early-stage drug testing, reducing the need for preliminary animal trials. Eg: Skin tissue models like EpiDerm are widely used to test cosmetics and chemicals for irritation and toxicity, replacing rabbit skin tests.
What limitations exist in using animals for toxicity and medical research?
- Biological Differences: Animals and humans often respond differently to substances, making results less reliable when applied to humans. Eg: A drug safe in mice might cause severe side effects in humans.
- Inability to Replicate Human Diseases Accurately: Many complex human diseases like Alzheimer’s or cancer cannot be fully mimicked in animals, leading to incomplete or misleading data. Eg: Alzheimer’s treatments successful in animals have failed in human trials.
Why is a change in societal values crucial for ensuring animal welfare in scientific practices?
- Shifting Public Opinion Influences Policy: When society becomes more ethically aware about animal suffering, it puts pressure on governments and institutions to adopt humane research standards and fund alternatives to animal testing.
- Promotes a Culture of Compassion in Science: Changing values encourage scientists to prioritise non-animal methods and view animal welfare as integral to ethical and responsible research, not just a legal requirement.
What are the steps taken by the Indian government?
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Way forward:
- Strengthen Investment in Alternatives: Increase funding for regenerative medicine, organoids, and AI-based simulations to provide scalable, ethical, and scientifically advanced testing methods.
- Enhance Public Awareness and Education: Launch nationwide campaigns to promote animal ethics in science, encouraging academic institutions and industries to adopt humane practices and reduce dependence on animal models.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2017] Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments?
Linkage: The article explicitly advocates for a shift from animal experimentation to methods like tissue engineering or regenerative medicine. Stem cell therapy is a direct application and a significant development within the field of regenerative medicine.
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