Why are cynomolgus monkeys used in research?

Cynomolgus monkeys are frequently used in biomedical research because researchers believe these monkeys are the ideal models due to the 90-93% genetic similarity to and recent evolutionary divergence from humans.

Why do we use monkeys for research?

Why are monkeys used in research? Human biology and disease can be studied in Monkeys because they are very similar to humans; biologically, anatomically, and physiologically. They have similar brains, muscle structure and reproductive and immune systems.

Why are macaque monkeys used in research?

Macaque species, specifically rhesus (Macaca mulatta), are the most common nonhuman primates (NHPs) used in biomedical research due to their suitability as a model of high priority diseases (e.g., HIV, obesity, cognitive aging), cost effective breeding and housing compared to most other NHPs, and close evolutionary ...

Why are non-human primates used in research?

Non-human primates are used in medical research because of their similarities to human beings. Results from research on non-human primates can often be applied to humans, and scientists have learned much about diseases, disorders, prevention and treatments for both humans and animals.

What type of monkeys are used for research?

US scientists use non-human primates, most commonly rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), to study a range of medical conditions, including infectious diseases.

Experimenting on Animals: Inside The Monkey Lab

What does cynomolgus mean?

Definition of cynomolgus monkey

: crab-eating macaque.

Why are primates used in animal testing?

Primates often remain the most suitable animal option because their immune system is very similar to that of humans. Primate species are the only ones that can be used to develop effective malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, or HIV vaccines and drugs for humans.

Why do we use non-human animals for biomedical research?

There are several reasons why the use of animals is critical for biomedical research: Animals are biologically very similar to humans. In fact, mice share more than 98% DNA with us! Animals are susceptible to many of the same health problems as humans – cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

What do you think are some of the most valuable reasons for studying nonhuman primates?

Non-human primates are highly valued in biomedical research because of their genetic similarity to humans, ² which means they can be especially useful for testing the safety of new drugs and studying infectious diseases, and in neurophysiology, where they can be trained to respond to external stimuli and their central ...

Which species of primates is most commonly used in biomedical research?

In general, the most common species studied are Old World monkeys like rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), and cynomolgus (also known as crab-eating or long-tailed) monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). These animals are critically needed for vaccine testing, particularly for AIDS. Greater apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, etc.)

What experiments are done on monkeys?

Experiments involving non-human primates (NHPs) include toxicity testing for medical and non-medical substances; studies of infectious disease, such as HIV and hepatitis; neurological studies; behavior and cognition; reproduction; genetics; and xenotransplantation.

Are monkeys still used in research?

Monkeys on the rise

Yet according to the new USDA figures, scientists used 75,825 nonhuman primates for research last year, up 22% since 2015 and 6% since 2008. In contrast, the number of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals recorded by USDA are all being used at lower numbers than they were a decade ago.

How studying non human primates helps us to understand what it means to be human?

Non-human primates alert us to the many, often uncanny similarities between humans and other animals, and the behaviors that define human distinctiveness. Studies of monkeys and apes in their natural settings in particular help us to model the ecological and social circumstances under which novel human behaviors arose.

How many non human primates are used in research?

The total number of nonhuman primates in research in the US was 68,257 in 2019 (the most recent year for which figures are available), according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Is primate research ethical?

The chapter comes to the conclusion that the use of primates in research is not only morally acceptable, but morally required, provided that 'such research is directed towards significant human benefit and there are no plausibly more effective ways of pursuing such research' (p130).

Why do we test on animals instead of humans?

When a new drug or surgical technique is developed, society deems it unethical to use that drug or technique first in human beings because of the possibility that it would cause harm rather than good. Instead, the drug or technique is tested in animals to make sure that it is safe and effective.

When would you use non-human animal subjects researchers?

In the United States, laboratory research with nonhuman animals is strongly regulated by the federal government to ensure it is scientifically valid and that animals are treated humanely. Of course, it is also the ethical obligation of researchers and their institutions to appropriately care for animals.

Why do researchers choose to use animal models?

Animals are good research subjects for a variety of reasons. They are biologically similar to humans and susceptible to many of the same health problems. Also, they have short life-cycles so they can easily be studied throughout their whole life-span or across several generations.

Why do we test on mice instead of monkeys?

Monkeys are the closest species to humans in terms of biological make-up, with a higher degree of sentience than many other species. For this reason, they are rarely used in medical research. However, animals such as mice and rats are not the most suitable models for humans in a number of important areas.

Why are chimpanzees used for animal testing?

Chimpanzees are used in diverse fields of biomedical research, primarily because of physiological characteristics resulting from their phylogenetic proximity to humans.

Why do monkeys eat their babies?

The baby chimp may simply have been a source of nutrition to the adult that snatched it, says Nishie. At any rate, infanticide and cannabilism are extremely rare among chimpanzees, says Hulme.

Why are cynomolgus monkeys used in toxicity studies?

Cynomolgus monkeys are frequently used in biomedical research because researchers believe these monkeys are the ideal models due to the 90-93% genetic similarity to and recent evolutionary divergence from humans.

Where are cynomolgus monkeys from?

Nevertheless, cynomolgus monkeys originate from three different populations (e.g., Indochina, insular Asia and the Philippines, and Mauritius) with own genetic features.

Why do biological anthropologists study non-human primates?

Physical Anthropologists study non-human primates because they serve as a window into the past to provide an idea of what life may have been like for our earliest human ancestors. By analyzing the behaviors and body structures of primates we can see how these behaviors & anatomy evolved over time.