Animal testing may be on its last legs

Published in the CSUF Daily Titan newspaper Feb. 12.

Like acne, the human race has spread across Earth's beautiful face.

In time, we may experience the pressure of a pinch and we may splatter like puss all over a bathroom mirror.

Until then, we will continue to breed, build and abuse the environment, like the powerful and ruthless pirates we are.

But reality proves we are born weak and ill-equipped to survive in nature without the use of technology. The paradox is that technology may be the downfall of nature.

Recently, a new and seemingly nature-friendly technology emerged, which may appease the sensitive masses and slowly stifle the contentious issue of testing human products on lab animals.

Unfortunately, these humanitarian reasons are not really the cause for this research. The research comes in response to the possible ban of animal testing in Europe.

Nobody hugged a tree and came to their senses.

A group of researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, UC Berkeley and Solidus Biosciences Inc. discovered a new method for testing toxic chemicals in makeup and drugs.

The group created two glass chips, or biochips, which resemble microscope slides. When pressed together, the DataChip, which exhibits human cell cultures, and the MetaChip, which acts as a human liver, mirror vital areas of a human body on which toxins may be tested.

Thus, ridding the need for live lab animals in testing facilities. Heroes, right?

After all, this new technology is definitely a logical step in the right direction, especially when a topic so debatable is free from livid arguments.

There's no need to continue murdering helpless animals for our own gain when more humane methods of testing are available.

This research is also actually backed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"It focuses on one particular biological question, which is the major drawback in other types of non-animal based testing," said Kate Willett, a science policy adviser for P.E.T.A., in a phone interview. "They usually fail to include the issue of metabolism."

Willett said that researchers are beginning to address the problem of metabolism with this new method.

"I don't see any downside to this technology," Willett said. "It's an improvement over previous methods."

Willett also explained the technology not only reduces animal dependency, but is cheaper, faster and more precise - everything companies love.

However, a small but important issue arises within this semi-perfect plan. The companies investing into this research may try marketing ploys.

The clever advertising geniuses may devise ads stressing the fact that their company uses this new technology for testing, deceiving the public into believing new technology reared its wonderful head instead of admitting it could have been discovered earlier.

It's possible the corporations may convince the masses they have always viewed animals as equals in this biosphere.

The truth is the cosmetic companies in Europe are being forced to find alternative ways to test products because, according to the Rensselaer Web site, testing cosmetics on lab animals in Europe will likely be against the law by 2009.

These people are not changing their methods out of sheer desire. They're changing their methods because they're being pushed to do so.

What an ideal situation for corporations - forced to change, but still able to reap rewards.