This summer we had an opportunity to dive into the world of bioweapons, through Richard Preston’s novel The Demon in the Freezer. His book explored the colorful world of smallpox and its use as a biological weapon. Earlier this week we were graced with this authors present for an ACES event. He discussed some of the found topics in his book such as animal testing, what small pox is, and even its eradication. One of the great things we had the chance of vocalizing were our many opinions on the gloom associated with this intriguing disease. On the riveting concept of animal testing we were personally able to share our own beliefs of the subject. The many opinions stated included the topic of not owning the animals or even suggesting that …show more content…
no matter the intention subjecting the animals to this “torture” is inhumane. While discussing we visited the other side of the spectrum, as well, by saying that if we are to make any progress in smallpox eradication and vaccinations why not use animals? These while being both compelling cases led me to my own conclusion. If we are required to show that a vaccination is useful in treatment of small pox, and proven testing is necessary, where do we turn? Animals, especially monkeys, are close enough relatives to humans we share enough genetics for laboratory testing. My view point is this, if we are to do testing on animals, however much I disagree, it is necessary for the health of the greater good. Hopefully one day animal testing will become obsolete with the bioreactor technology that is up and coming. The previous day Preston discussed small pox being a strategic weapon, meaning it belongs in the nuclear family.
These weapons are intended to wipe millions from the face of the earth. This brought us to the topic of extinction. The author mentioned to the crowd that the extinction in a media setting while showing we are committed to the eradication, he brought about the point of any further samples or testing of said samples would be seen as morally wrong. Upon hearing this I was struck with the thought if we are to sit here and think that the earth has no immoral people on it we may have another thing coming. Many people at the first sign of opportunity will strike to take down millions, without losing an hour of sleep. My point is this if we are to put an entire species to extinction; we must know for sure that ALL of the samples are destroyed. Now I honestly believe that since the small pox virus once made a trans-species jump what’s to say it wouldn’t make that leap once more. As a society we would need to be prepared to fight back against this threat, and what better way to so this then through experimentation. My point was then semi-supported by the author himself. Preston says that in middle Africa there is a new pox strain that is infecting humans. This makes the idea of completely diminishing our stocks a questionable endeavor in my
mind. Overall, having a chance to meet with this author and to hear his first-hand accounts of small pox was intriguing. The numerous amounts of people working to dig deeper into its understanding that he knows, just makes it seem like the virus is at your door step. I had an immense time reading this novel over the summer, and discussing all aspects with the author himself.
The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston is an intriguing book that discusses the anthrax terrorist attacks after 9/11 and how smallpox might become a future bioterrorist threat to the world. The book provides a brief history of the smallpox disease including details of an outbreak in Germany in 1970. The disease was eradicated in 1979 due to the World Health Organization’s aggressive vaccine program. After the virus was no longer a treat the World Health Organization discontinued recommending the smallpox vaccination. In conjunction, inventory of the vaccine was decreased to save money. The virus was locked up in two labs, one in the United States and one in Russia. However, some feel the smallpox virus exists elsewhere. Dr. Peter Jahrling and a team of scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Maryland became concerned terrorists had access to the smallpox virus and planed to alter the strain to become more resistant. These doctors conducted smallpox experiments to discover more effective vaccines in case the virus were released. Preparedness for a major epidemic is discussed as well as the ease with which smallpox can be bioengineered.
Guillemin, J. (2005). Biological weapons: From the invention of state-sponsored programs to contemporary bioterrorism Columbia University Press.
This is important because understanding the way in which this happens, attitudes towards animal testing, are formed and how they spread will likely have an impact on public policy on animal welfare and animal rights activism. The information presented and the results will justify my view on animal testing and why it should be banned from scientific reasonings. (75 words)
Nowadays, technology makes easier for scientists to discover new viruses and find cures for them. One these viruses, “bird flu” known as H5N1 recreated by the Dutch scientist Ron Fouchier. Even though he had no ill intention to create such strain, it has a potential to wipe most humanity off from the face of the world as well as saving the humanity from much worse viruses. The discovery of this virus caused a big controversy in the scientific world. Some scientists think that publication of this virus indeed benefits society while some say that not publishing this might prevent society from horrible incidents.
Animal testing is a subject appalled by many people. It is considered to be unethical, inhumane, and downright cruel. One of these reasons for the opposition of animal experimentation is due to the belief shared by many animal activist groups, such as PETA, that animals are kept in appalling living conditions in research facilities. Reasons to believe this are caused by minor instances of laboratories not abiding the law. However, despite these instances the welfare of test animals are preserved by many laws and regulatio...
...an attack against the US. Today the vaccinia virus is used for vaccinations because it more closely resembles smallpox than cowpox does(McNeil, 165). Even though natural smallpox is no longer an everyday threat as it was in the past, we cannot ignore its potential as a lethal weapon against any country.
Throughout my paper, I felt as though I was able to give a solid and fair representation of the opposing viewpoint on issue of animal testing. However, it was challenging because I strongly oppose animal testing.
During one of his earlier apprenticeships, Jenner noticed milkmaids with a disease called cowpox. Cowpox is a close relative to smallpox and is only mild in humans. Pustules appear on the hands and a basic cold is also brought on. At Jenner’s young age he was able to link these two viruses together and come up with a theory for immunization. In 1796, while still attending medical school, Jenner decided to test this theory between smallpox and cowpox. He used a dairymaid, who was a patient of his named Sarah Nelms, who had contracted cowpox and had ripe pustules on her hands. Jenner realized this was his opportunity to test someone who had not contracted smallpox yet. He picked an eight-year old boy named James Phipps to use as his test subject. He scraped open a spot of James' arm and rubbed in a dissected piece of Sarah Nelms pustule into the open wound. A couple days later James became ill with cowpox but was well again within a week. This test proved that cowpox could be spread between humans as well as cows. Jenner's next test would be if the cowpox virus gave James immunity against smallpox. On July 1st of 1796, Edward Jenner obtained an infected smallpox pustule and scratched the virus filled pus into James' arm. This technique of placing a virus into a patient is called variolation. James Phipps did not develop smallpox within the
The issue of animal testing has become an important topic of debate because despite the cruel and inhumane treatment of laboratory animals, people who support animal testing claim that the research benefits are phenomenal and surely outweigh the animals’ pain and suffering. I feel as though the question of whether or not animal testing is immoral is an easy answer. Animal testing on any species is unethical and should be abolished as soon as possible because it is a form of animal cruelty, provides inaccurate results, and there are better alternatives that can be pursued.
LT. COLONEL TONY STRYKER is a military ‘bug’ collector who enters hot zones as easily as others enter hot tubs. He possesses an innate knack for locating weapons grade pathogens as well as a predilection for the use of violence when solving delicate matters. SENATOR HARLAN T. LONG, the head of a clandestine bioweapons project, sends him to supervise a surreptitious clinical trial that uses an ancient virus in a vaccine to treat heart disease. The 'smart' virus circumvents the project's safety protocols by infecting two children and then mutates the common flu virus into a killer that targets mainly the young.
In this quality of life research, I expected to gather more information and knowledge about animal testing. I also wanted to know how much the public knew about this topic. Before I began my field research, I expected that few people knew the true tortures of animal testing. Majority of the public didn’t know how many and what types of animals were being tested on, on a yearly basis in the United States. However, I expected to raise awareness and educate even myself about this issue. I managed to gather more information through interviews, observations, and a questionnaire.
Animal testing is a controversial topic, with two main sides of the argument. The side opposing animal testing states it is unethical and inhumane that animals have a right to choose where and how they live instead of being subjected to experiments. The view is that all living organisms have a right of freedom; it is a right, not a privilege. The side for animal testing thinks that it should continue, without animal testing there would be fewer medical and scientific breakthroughs. This side states that the outcome is worth the investment of testing on animals.
The practice of using animals for testing has been a controversial issue over the past thirty years. Animal testing is a morally debated practice. The question is whether animal testing is morally right or wrong. This paper will present both sides of this issue as well as my own opinion.
In conclusion, it is clear that a biological weapon is wrong. When Saddam Hussein threatened to turn the Persian Gulf War into “the mother of all wars” the world shook with the possible implications. The United States managed to divert the course of the war such as this did not happen. In other situation these results have not been as successful, unfortunately, and many people have suffered and died. I hope that civilization is moving towards total illumination of biological weaponry.
For years animal testing has been a very controversial issue around the globe. Animal testing has been very beneficial to people, but has cause an up stir to animal rights activists and organizations like PETA. “The earliest references to animal ex...