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Non-animal methods and 3Rs

For all scientific questions for which there are reliable approaches that do not involve animals, scientists must use these non-animal methods. Using animals is costly and ethically not always easy. Most researchers use a combination of non-animal methods and animal experiments.

Are experimental methods without live animals cheaper?
Tissue or cell culture analyses are often less expensive.
Image: C. Ritz
Why don't researchers use alternative methods more frequently?
No animal experiment may be conducted if an alternative method is available and suitable.
Image: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Are non-animal methods more reliable and transferable?
No, because cell and tissue cultures always only facilitate the investigation of partial aspects of the action of a medicine or a disease process.
Image: O. Cafiero

Are experimental methods without live animals cheaper?

Why don't researchers use alternative methods more frequently?

Are non-animal methods more reliable and transferable?