The Three R'S

In order to make animal experimentation and testing more ethical, scientists have come up with a method called the three R's. This is an idea that was created for more ethical testing standards when using animals. The three R's stand for: replacement, reduction, and refinement. Replacement means that alternatives to research should be used instead of animals. Types of alternatives include human models, computer simulations, and tissue cultures. Included in this idea is replacing vertebraes with invertebraes such as bacteria, worms, or small bugs. Reduction means to minimize the number of animals being used for experiments, so that LESS animals are harmed. The method for reduction can be by using positive and strict control over the experiment's design and having a proper environment for animals to live in. Finally, refinement means that something in the experiment gets changed in order for there to be a reduction of pain or stress that an animal may feel. While this method may not entirely get rid of animal testing, it is a step in the right direction towards animals having better rights.