Some animal rights activists would suggest an optional fourth choice,claiming that computer models can create animal experiments, thus omitting actual experiments.Computers can imitate the effects of well-understood principles on complex systems,as in the application of the laws of physics to airplane and automobile design.However, when the principles themselves are in question,as is the case with the complex biological systems of human life under study,computer modeling alone is of little value.One of the terrifying effects of arresting the use of animals in medical research is that the impact will not be felt for years or even decades.Drugs to cure infection will remain undiscovered,surgical and diagnostic techniques will remain undeveloped,and fundamental biological processes that might have been understood will remain mysteries.There is the danger that quick decisions by well-meaning politicianswill create resolution to diplomatically satisfy the small minority of loud protestorswhile the consequences and damaging impact of those decisions will not be apparent until long after.
