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Erika Quintero
Professor Haas
Writing 37
9 March 2015
Conducting Scientific Experiments on our Nonhuman Primate Siblings
Original Thesis: Because of the significant similarities primates share with humans, it makes us
question whether the action of experimenting on them is ethical.
Revised Thesis: According to Churchland, testing on primates for harsh scientific studies is
necessary in order to have human like models, but Kluger argues the fact that they share so many
similarities with humans makes us question whether experimentation on them is ethical.

Original Introduction: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately

70,000 nonhuman primates are used for research in the U.S. each year, and another 45,000 are
held or bred for research. Presently, scientists are using primates as animal models for
pharmaceutical and psychological experiments. Nonhuman primates are used for a variety of
scientific experiments; for example, Mark M. Churchland, a neuroscientist from Columbia
University, conducts research to understand the neural dynamics that allow the brain to
generate its own activity. This research practice is built upon the foundational knowledge that
nonhuman primates share sufficient psychological similarities with humans as to serve as
humanlike models. However, Jeffrey Kluger, a senior writer at TIME Magazine, claims that we
should be concerned about how we treat these primates, since they are so similar to humans
(Kluger). This makes the topic of primates used in scientific experiments one of the most
controversial topics. Because of the significant similarities primates share with humans, it makes
us question whether the action of experimenting on them is ethical.

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Revised Introduction: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 70,000

nonhuman primates are used for research in the U.S. each year, and another 45,000 are held or
bred for research. Presently, scientists are using primates as animal models for pharmaceutical
and psychological experiments. Nonhuman primates are used for a variety of scientific
experiments; for example, Mark M. Churchland, a neuroscientist from Columbia University,
conducts research to understand the neural dynamics that allow the brain to generate its own
activity (Churchland). This research practice is built upon the foundational knowledge that
nonhuman primates share sufficient psychological similarities with humans as to serve as
humanlike models. However, Jeffrey Kluger, a senior writer at TIME Magazine, claims that we
should be concerned about how we treat these primates, since they are so similar to humans
(Kluger). Like Kluger, there are so many voicing their research findings and opinions about the
ethics of using primates in scientific experiences, making this one of the most controversial
topics to date. According to Churchland, testing on primates for harsh scientific studies is
necessary in order to have human like models, but Kluger argues that the fact that they share so
many similarities with humans should make us question whether experimentation on them is
ethical.
Works Cited
Brady, Matt. Disney With Fangs. Newsarama. September 29, 2007. 20 Jan. 2015
Churchland, Mark M., Ph.D. "Laboratory of Mark M. Churchland." Columbia University in
the City of New York, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.
Irvine, Leslie. Them and Us. If You Tame Me: Understanding Our Connections With
Animals. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 2004. N. pag. Print.

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Kluger, Jeffrey. "Inside the Minds of Animals." Time. Time Inc., 05 Aug. 2010. Web. 29 Jan.
2015.
"Laws and Regulations | Animal Use in Research." Laws and Regulations | Animal Use in
Research. New England Anti-Vivisection Society, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.
"Nonhuman Primates." United States Department of Agriculture. USDA, n.d. Web. 29 Jan.
2015.