Throughout history, animals have been frequently used for the purpose of biomedical research. This research technique was first seen from 384-322 BC, when the early Greek scientists like Aristotle performed experiments on animals. Another Greek physician named Galen discovered more about physiology and anatomy through the study of animals. Recently, the method of animal testing has come under criticism by animal rights groups. The ethics of testing on animals along with how the animals are treated are significant aspects of the debate. The testing of drugs has become important in the modern era due to a medical catastrophe in 1937 in the US. A pharmaceutical company created a product without realizing the chemicals that made up the solvent were poisonous to humans. After people consumed the product, hundreds of poison related deaths followed. This prompted the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to be passed, which requires drugs to be tested on animals before they are marketed (Hajar 1).

Due to this, there has been a massive increase in animal experimentation. “Each year, more than 100 million animals—including mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birds—are killed in U.S.” due to animal experimentation ("Animal Experiments: Overview"). In addition to these killings, millions of more animals are injured and treated maliciously in laboratories all over the U.S. Currently, animal testing has been on the rise; specifically, there has been a 73% increase in the past 15 years according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and this increase must stop. (Casey 1).