“Blind men and an elephant”: The need for animals in research, drug safety studies, and understanding civilizational diseases

Abstract

Animal‐based research and drug safety studies are essential to understanding the mysteries of nature and the long‐term survival of humans. Due to the rapid increase in the global human population, conflict‐ and economically driven human migration, tourism‐related activities, densely populated metropolitan areas, and local policies, humans will be affected by a multitude of novel disease‐causing microorganisms and civilizational diseases. Despite disparities among countries, recent and planned changes in regulations concerning animal research and drug safety studies could have detrimental effects on both the animal research community and nations lacking sufficient social support systems. Based on existing scientific literature, I argue that we need animal research encompassing aspects such as animal development, behavior, drug safety studies, and for the understanding of future civilizational diseases. Depending on the nature of the research questions and local challenges, a suitable animal model organism should be made mandatory.

Impact of gasocrine signaling

“…Hence, the impact of gasocrine signaling is incalculable, and the acceptance of inter-organismal gasocrine signaling may explain the short comings of non-animal-based model organisms and will also require revisions in biology textbooks. 49,50 Anbalagan, Savani. Impact of gasocrine signaling.…”

Heme-based oxygen gasoreceptors

“…This situation resembles the Blind men and the Elephant parable, which I previously mentioned as one of the reasons for shortcomings in non-animal model systems. 38,39 Accepting O2 as an essential gasotransmitter could potentially unite the gasotransmitter community with the O2 sensing research community and the hypoxia-dependent disease model research community, that includes researchers studying cancer, aging, autism, diabetes, stress and more. 18,37,[40][41][42][43][44] I propose that proteins (such as FixL*, Dos, Globin-coupled sensors, stressosome-like complex and etc.,) acting via a heme, which can bind metallotransmitter iron and sense the essential gasotransmitter O2, triggering a cellular response, must be called O2 gasoreceptors.…”

Redox state-dependent gasocrine signaling

“…1 Isn't their actions reminiscent of the blind men in the blind men and the elephant parable? 13,14 However, a cell remains indifferent to our computational limitations, the definitions in our 'high-impact' scientific literature or textbooks, and the lack of unity among experts. 15,16 A drug will still fail in clinical trials due to our lack of Moksha in biology especially when we generate knowledge upon on our limited definitions or research on nonanimal model systems or lack of unity among scientific community.…”

“…15,16 A drug will still fail in clinical trials due to our lack of Moksha in biology especially when we generate knowledge upon on our limited definitions or research on nonanimal model systems or lack of unity among scientific community. 14 To achieve robust and comprehensive remedies for treating diseases, unity is imperative-much like the unity demonstrated during the recent COVID-19 pandemic among scientific community. [17][18][19] If we consider the rules in a Cricket match, if the ball dislodges the bail, it is still a wicket and the batsmen must depart.…”